Hockey Canada has its man

Al Murray, the former head scout for the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, will be named Hockey Canada's head scout on Thursday (Aug. 2). Murray, who was fired in January by Los Angeles GM Dean Lombardi as part of what became quite a house-cleaning, signed a two-year deal with Hockey Canada where he replaces Jim Hammett of Kelowna. Hammett, a former Colorado Avalanche head scout, left Hockey Canada to sign with the New York Rangers as their head scout. Murray, who lives in Regina, will head for Calgary later this week where he will join Canada's under-18 team as it prepares to attend the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in Czech Republic and Slovakia, Aug. 14-18. Murray will help the coaching staff evaluate 40 players and trim to a 22-player roster. . . . Upon returning from the Hlinka tournament, Murray will get ready to join the under-20 Canadian team that will play an eight-game series against a Russian opponent. . . . Murray has two hockey-playing sons, both of whom will go to camp with the WHL's Chilliwack Bruins. Troy, a defenceman, was an eighth-round pick by the Bruins in the 2007 bantam draft; Jake, born in 1990, is a right-winger. Both boys are likely to spend next season with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians, who are coached by former Regina Pats D Mike Wirachowsky.

Kelly Kisio has a new multi-year deal as general manager and head coach of the Calgary Hitmen. Kisio is about to begin his 10th season as GM and his fourth as GM/head coach. The Hitmen are 393-236-56-35 with Kisio in control. . . . Former WHLer/NHLer Alan Kerr is the new GM/head coach of the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Kerr is part of the Okanagan Hockey School group that has purchased 60 per cent of the franchise.