Daily Dose of the Dub: Wheat Kings promote Ritchie to GM job, WHL Alumni updates

Brandon promotes Ritchie to GM job

The Brandon Wheat Kings have promoted Director of Scouting Darren Ritchie to the General Manager position with the team, a role left open when Grant Armstrong parted ways with the organization.

Ritchie is a Wheat Kings alum, playing 232 games with the team from 1990-95, scoring 152 goals and 126 assists. He was named to the WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team, leading the league in +/- and taking home the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player Award in 1994-95.

After nine seasons in the minor pro system in North America and in Europe, Ritchie returned to the Wheat Kings in 2006-07 as an assistant coach, a role he held until being promoted to his Director of Scouting position in 2016. He is also the father of Wheat Kings prospect Nolan Ritchie, who played four games with the team last season.

Blue Jackets add Makela, Sutter to the scouting staff, Flynn gets a promotion  

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced some changes to their hockey operations staff, which includes the addition of two WHL alumni and the promotion of another:

  • Mikko Mäkelä (coach with the Lethbridge Hurricanes from 2002-04) is joining the team as an amateur scout.
  • Lukas Sutter (265 GP, 55 G, 71 A with the Saskatoon Blades and Red Deer Rebels) is also taking an amateur scouting position with the team.
  • Danny Flynn (assistant coach with the Portland Winterhawks in 2017-18) has been promoted to a full-time amateur scouting position.

Pair of WHL alumni join Oilers scouting staff 

The Edmonton Oilers have hired a pair of WHL alumni to lead their scouting staff. Archie Henderson (164 GP, 26 G, 29 A with the Lethbridge Broncos and Victoria Cougars, head coach of the Cougars from 1992-94) has been named Director of Pro Scouting, while Tyler Wright (233 GP, 115 G, 156 A with the Swift Current Broncos) has been hired as Director of Amateur Scouting.

Former Pats captain re-signs with Capitals

Colby Williams (211 GP, 25 G, 79 A with the Regina Pats) has signed a one-year contract extension with the Washington Capitals. Williams was drafted by the Capitals in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft after being named to the WHL Eastern Conference second all-star team. He played 36 games last season with the Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, and had 10 assists.

Grizzlies sign Maxwell and Nagel

The Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL have signed WHL alumni Mitch Maxwell (142 GP, 46 G, 50 A with the Lethbridge Hurricanes) and Tanner Nagel (232 GP, 29 G, 22 A with the Portland Winterhawks, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Swift Current Broncos) for the 2019-20 season.