Chilliwack, BC – The BCHL is pleased to announce league alumnus and former Vancouver Canucks defenceman and assistant coach Jack McIlhargey as the Honorary Chairman of the 2015 Bauer BCHL Showcase.
McIlhargey will take part in the opening ceremonies Friday night at Prospera Centre in Chilliwack, just prior to the 7:30 Chilliwack Chiefs – Penticton Vees game.
The Burnaby, B.C. product played the 1970-71 season with the BCJHL’s New Westminster Royals before going on to a pro career that included 393 games in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers, Canucks and the Hartford Whalers. As an assistant coach, he spent 15 seasons over two different stints with the Canucks and another three seasons behind the bench with Philadelphia.
McIlhargey will remain at the Showcase for the entire event in his role as an amateur scout for the Flyers. In 2012, he was responsible for drafting Merritt Centennials defenceman Reece Willcox who is now a senior at Cornell University.
“Jack is an old teammate of mine with the Canucks and someone I enjoy talking hockey with when I see him at our rinks scouting players,” said BCHL commissioner John Grisdale. “Jack does a great job scouting our league and as a former BCHLer, he’s an ideal candidate for our Showcase so I’m extremely happy he can be there.”
Previous chairmen for the Bauer BCHL Showcase have been Jason Garrison, Harold Snepsts and Ron Delorme and Steve Kariya.
The 2015 Showcase runs Thursday to Sunday at Prospera Centre in Chilliwack. (SCHEDULE)
