A FORGE PROMOTED TO SILVERTIPS' HEAD SCOUT

Press Release

EVERETT, WA - Everett Silvertips Vice President/General Manager Doug Soetaert today announced the promotion of Bil La Forge to the position of Head Scout for the organization. La Forge takes over the scouting staff previously managed by Scott Scoville, an original Silvertips staff member who recently moved up to the National Hockey League to scout for the Winnipeg Jets.

“I’m really looking forward to working more with Bil as he takes over as our Head Scout,” said Soetaert. “He has been an integral part of our scouting staff for the last three years, contributing to our draft with a number of good, young players from the Alberta area. We’re confident in his player evaluation skills and believe that he’ll do a great job of bringing quality players into our organization for years to come.”

La Forge enters his fourth year scouting talent for Everett in 2011-12. The Edmonton, Alberta native has scouted in the WHL since 2000, working for the Tri-City Americans and Lethbridge Hurricanes before his time with the Silvertips. He has also spent time scouting for the Manitoba Moose. La Forge has been active in coaching minor hockey over the past decade as well, winning multiple championships at the bantam level as a Head Coach.

A graduate of both Augustana University College and the University of Alberta, La Forge’s playing resume includes time in both the junior and collegiate ranks. He skated in the Ontario Hockey League with the Guelph Storm and with three clubs in the Alberta Junior Hockey League before transitioning to school, where he attended Concordia University College and finally Augustana. La Forge’s father, Bill, was a longtime head coach in the WHL (Regina, Kamloops), OHL (Oshawa, Hamilton, Niagra Falls, Guelph), and NHL (Vancouver).

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)