TAMPA, FLA –
Scott Walford, who graduated from McGill University last spring, dressed for his first National Hockey League preseason game on Wednesday, with Tampa in a wild
8-7 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Both teams have a number of McGill grads in their respective administrative staffs (see list below).
It was the first NHL appearance for Walford, a 25-year-old native of Coquitlam, B.C., who earned OUA East first-team all-star status last season and graduated with a bachelor's degree, majoring in economics. The 6-foot-1, 206-pound blueliner was a three-time recipient of the Bobby Bell Trophy as Team MVP of the Redbirds. He appeared in 90 career games with McGill overall, from 2021 to 2024, and tallied 71 points, including 11 goals, with 52 penalty minutes.
After the McGil season concluded with a bronze medal at the U SPORTS national championship, Walford signing with the Syracuse Crunch, an American Hockey League affiliate of Tampa. Hed made his AHL debut on March 22, 2024, becoming the 16th McGill product to play in an AHL game.
Selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round, 68th overall, at the 2017 NHL Draft, Walford previously skated in 290 career WHL games with the Saskatoon Blades and Victoria Royals from 2014 to 2020.
Walford is the second former McGill rearguard currently in an NHL camp, joining
Nikolas Brouillard (BA '22), an All-Canadian and two-time OUA all-star who is currently skating with the Seattle Kraken. They are both bidding to become the 10th McGill player to skate in an NHL regular season game.
To date, there have been 171 U SPORTS products, the Canadian equivalent of the NCAA, to play in an NHL game.
(
LIST OF CANADIAN UNIVERSITY PLAYERS TO PLAY IN THE NHL)
Previous McGillians to do so include
Lester Patrick (D/G, NY Rangers; 1926-1928),
Sam Rothschild (LW; Montreal Maroons / Pittsburgh Pirates / NY Americans; 1924-1928),
Russ Blinco (F; Montreal Maroons / Chicago; 1938-39),
Nels Crutchfield (D; Montreal; 1934-35),
Jack McGill (LW; Montreal; 1934-1937),
Reg Sinclair (RW; NY Rangers / Detroit; 1950-1953),
Johnny Peirson (F; Boston; 1946-1958),
Jack Gelineau (G; Boston / Chicago; 1948-1954) and
Mathieu Darche (F; Columbus / Nashville / San Jose / Tampa / Montreal; 2000-2011).
Darche (BCom '00) is currently serving as director of hockey operations with the Lightning. The Florida Panthers organization features three McGill grads currently working with the team. Among those on staff are former McGill hockey team captains
Jamie Kompon (BEd '89), an assistant coach, and
Ken Morin (BA '09), the team's scout for Western Canada, in addition to
Jérome Burke (BBA '08), who earned a degree in business administration while playing football at McGill and has been with the Panthers since 2016, serving as the team's director of business operations (2016-2018), chief of staff (2018-2021) and director of hockey administration (2021-present).
The McGill men's hockey program is currently in it's 149th year of operation and will conclude its preseason schedule against Ottawa this Friday (Sept. 27) in a 7 p.m. start in the nation's capital. The Redbirds begin their OUA regular season on Oct. 6 against the Nipissing Lakers in North Bay, Ont.
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
CELIL:
514-983-7012
E-MAIL:
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
TWITTER:
@EarlZukerman
