Tigers hire on Carter Sears as new director of player personnel

By Ryan McCracken on October 6, 2017.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

The Medicine Hat Tigers added more than 25 years of scouting experience to their staff Thursday with the hiring of former Winnipeg Jets scout Carter Sears.

After two Western Hockey League titles, one Memorial Cup and five seasons as a scout with the Jets, Sears steps in as Medicine Hat’s new director of player personnel.

“We’re thrilled,” said Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston, adding Sears’s resume speaks for itself.

“He’s been around hockey forever. He’s been around scouting for 25-plus years, he was involved in the Red Deer Rebels organization for a number of years. He was the builder of their ’01 Memorial Cup team. After that he was a consultant with Kootenay for years and was part of some pretty successful teams there including their Western Hockey League winning team in 2011. Then the last few years he’s been a pro scout with Winnipeg, so he comes with lots of experience and he’s been very successful at this level.”

Sears — who spent 13 years as the head scout of the Rebels after a playing career that started with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Estevan Bruins —fills the void left by outgoing director of player personnel Darren Kruger.

Kruger is now following a similar path to Sears after signing on as a scout with the Calgary Flames last month, but his impact on the Tigers will leave a lasting impression on the team for years to come.

Kruger was responsible for drafting rookie talent Josh Williams, while his most recent group of draft picks continue to thrive and develop at the minor levels.

It was announced Thursday that 2017 bantam draft picks Garin Bjorklund, Ryan Watson and Austin Dycer will all compete at the WHL Cup, which begins Oct. 18 in Calgary.

Bjorklund will play goal for Team Alberta, while Dycer will man the blue line with Team Saskatchewan and Watson will play defence with Team B.C.

“I think that’s a bit of a guidepost each year. You want players involved and we’ve got three players,” said Clouston. “It’s a real positive.”

The Tigers return to action tonight at the Canalta Centre against the Regina Pats. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.