When you are trying to find talent, why not get one of the most talented players in the history of the Alberta Junior Hockey League helping you?
That is exactly what the Grande Prairie Storm have done as the organization continues to take a new direction with its hockey operations.
The team, sitting in sixth place in the North Division of the AJHL, today announced the all-time leading scorer in AJHL history will be in charge of the team’s scouting system.
Mark Bomersback, who played with the Bow Valley/Canmore Eagles from 1999-2003, was today announced as the team’s Head Scout and Associate General Manager.
During his 250 games with the Eagles over four years he had 141 goals and 253 assists for 394 points. He was named the league Most Valuable Player in 2002-2003.
“One of my first priorities was to address our recruiting strategies and gain a stronger foothold within the junior hockey world,” said Storm head coach/general manager Matt Keillor, who took over the reins of the team earlier this month and has guided the Storm to three wins in five games. “When Mark’s name came up I was pretty excited.”
Bomersback spent the last two years as an Alberta scout with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League with a large focus on players in the AMBHL, AMMHL and AMHL.
“Any time an organization can add a member of Mark’s caliber as a person and his outstanding background, it instantly makes you better,” said Keillor. “I have had a strong relationship with Mark for a while and I know we will work great together.
“Mark is well versed in the AJHL and knows they type of player and person you need to succeed at this level. I look forward to working closely with Mark and building a winning culture here in Grande Prairie.”
After graduating from the AJHL Bomersback spent four years in the NCAA with Ferris State and then began a professional journey that took him from the East Coast Hockey League to the American Hockey League and then overseas where he played, among other places, in Russia in the KHL and in Czechoslovakia. For the last three seasons he was played with the Innisfail Eagles in the Chinkook Hockey League.
The 34-year-old used to battle the Storm for supremacy in the AJHL, and is looking forward to working with the team.
“I’m very excited,” said Bomersback, who was on the AJHL Eagles team that lost in double overtime to the Storm in Game 7 of a semi-final in the spring of 2002. “This is a great opportunity for myself and my family. I’m really looking forward to working alongside Matt and the entire staff on bringing success to this organization.”
Bomersback’s first opportunity to analyze the team as a member of the Storm will be on Friday, Dec. 30 when the Storm host the Fort McMurray Oil Barons at 7:30 p.m. at Revolution Place.