FORT MCMURRAY, AB (April 24, 2014) – The Fort McMurray Oil Barons are pleased to announce that Doug Hergenhein (Calgary, AB) has signed a 3-year contract extension to remain the club’s head scout.
“We’ve had a lot of respect for Doug over the years,” said Oil Barons President Len Clarke. “Doug has a great eye for talent; he’s been with us for close to nine years, and when we talked briefly on Tuesday, he was still due to be with us until the end of May.“
“We talked about the direction we’re going now; and this is a different organization, that Doug wanted to be a part of.”
“I’ve gotten quite a few kids up there in the past, and the organization and coaching staff have always been good to them,” said Hergenhein. “It’s a great place for these kids to play, or I wouldn’t be there. I’m pretty loyal, I feel, to the kids and the parents, and that’s a big part of the reason why I’m staying there.”
Hergenhein began his AJHL career with 5 years as the head coach of the Calgary Royals, before joining the Oil Barons organization as head scout and assistant general manager. After the team’s 2006 AJHL championship win, he became head coach and general manager of the Drumheller Dragons for 3 seasons, before returning to the Oil Barons in a head scout role.
He also spent 3 years as head coach of the Airdrie Xtreme Bantam AAA squad, which won two provincial and two western Canadian championships in Hergenhein’s tenure.
“I think the thing that sets Doug apart is his communication level with the kids,” said Clarke. “He knows how to treat kids, and he doesn’t make promises lightly. When he promises something, he makes sure he has the backing of the organization before he does so.”
Hergenhein’s work has led to several impact players becoming Oil Barons, including, but not limited to, 2013-14 AJHL Top Goaltender Tanner Jaillet, 2011 team Rookie of the Year Mitchell Board, clutch 2012 playoff performer John Dunbar, and rookie defenceman Taylor Lileikis.
Hergenhein says he looks forward to helping craft the squad that will host the 2015 Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup.
“I think whoever’s coming in as the head coach will definitely have a challenge there,” he said. “We feel that, with the kids that we’ve brought into the program last year and this year, it’ll be pretty exciting. Hosting the WCC will probably be a pretty good drawing card also.”
In addition to Hergenhein, the Oil Barons will retain two of his scouts in the Calgary area, as well as their British Columbia-based scout, while Hergenhein will seek to add two more scouts in the north.
The Barons recently announced the commitment of three more players scouted by Hergenhein, in Calgary Buffaloes Midget AAA grads Jackson McKinstry, Anthony Orubor, and Mark Drohan.
Hergenhein says they expect more commitments in the near future.
“We’ve got a couple more almost inked in; they want to make sure they’re doing the right thing,” said Hergenhein. “At camp in July, we’ll bring some kids in there; we’ve had a couple more kids down here that have showed well. They’re going back, and will commit to us then, or within this next little while. It’s just kind of a waiting game – what’s going to be right for those kids.”
The Oil Barons will hold their July camp in St. Albert this year.