It seems to go full circle for some in hockey, but for Nanaimo’s Bill Bestwick he has paid his dues and deserves this promotion to the higher ranks with the Blues.
Some might not remember but Bill was the first manager of the Great Pacific Forum (GPF) in Delta dating back to the official opening in 1995.
Then it was back to Nanaimo to live his dream and Coach hockey in the BCHL, then getting involved in local politics as a City Councillor.
No one is really looking forward to the upcoming local elections this fall and this move for Bill was one in which he could officially pull out of the city’s Mayoral race.
The official announcement by the former Nanaimo Clippers Head Coach was let known September 5th after he took some time to ponder the news.
He was released in December 2013 in his second year as head coach of the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies before accepting a job as the head coach of the Junior B Oceanside Generals, as well as a senior advisor position with the Clippers.
He coached the Clippers for 14 seasons, from 1988-90, and from 1999 to 2011 and guided them to two (2) BCHL Championships
He was involved as a coach in the BC Hockey League and did this for several seasons, but last season he spent a short stint in Junior B on the Island.
Now he (Bestwick) has accepted a position as an amateur scout for the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues.
Bill sent an e-mail to the media stating “My duties in this capacity commence immediately and I welcome this challenge and opportunity working for the St. Louis Blues.”
Bestwick told the media |he was approached by Blues pro scout Tony Feltrin about his interest in entering professional hockey’s scouting world.”
He continued “I was shortlisted and subsequently offered the position last week, and sent the contract back today and “I’m very excited about it.”
His duties will include scouting players in the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) British Columbia and United States divisions in the league’s Western Conference, along with the B.C. Hockey League.
As an NHL scout he will be doing some travelling, which is a reason why he was not able to stay in Nanaimo’s mayoral election and will still seek re-election as a councillor.
“More than anything, it’s Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. If there’s mid-week games on Tuesdays or Wednesdays that I can get to that are easily accessible on the Island, then I will be (there), but I’ll be mostly in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and a little bit into the Interior.”
Sportswave wishes Bill all the best in his new position.
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