Meet the new Flames amateur scouts

The Calgary Flames have updated their website’s staff directory, shedding some light on some personnel changes in their amateur scouting department. We’ve previously written on some structural changes to the scouting group with the promotions of Rob Sumner and Fred Parker to the newly-created positions of assistant directors of amateur scouting, but now we have some clarity in terms of some comings and goings.

There are five new names on the scouting roster for the Flames this season.

Reid Jackson: A former defenseman from the WHL who played with Lethbridge, Prince George and Moose Jaw before his career ended prematurely due to a concussion. Based on some googling, this appears to be his first scouting role at the ripe age of 24. He’s the son of longtime hockey executive Les Jackson, who’s spent most of his three decades in hockey with the Dallas Stars organization.

Robert Neuhauser: An experienced European scout who’s worked with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes (under Brad Treliving) and Tri-City Americans (when they brought Juuso Valimaki in as an import). Presumably he’ll work in Europe replacing Petri Skriko, who took a job as head coach with the Herning Blue Fox in Denmark.

Billy Powers: A longtime former assistant and associate coach with the University of Michigan, where he’s worked since 1988-89. Presumably he’ll replace Frank Anzalone on the NCAA beat.

Darren Kruger: A former defender with the Swift Current Broncos way back in 1987-89, Kruger joins the Flames after several seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers – first as an assistant coach and later as director of player personnel. He replaces Brad McEwen, another former Tigers hockey operations maven, as a WHL scout after McEwen took a position with Hockey Canada. Fun fact: he played in the WHL at the same time as Flames general manager Brad Treliving.

Patrick Lachance: A former scout for the QMJHL’s PEI Rocket, Quebec Remparts and Charlottetown Islanders, he’ll presumably take up for the departed Corey Krakower and Richie Thibeau.

In addition to the previously mentioned names, USHL scout Luke Strand has left to be the head coach of the Sioux City Musketeers.