One of the most respected people in the Saskatchewan hockey scouting world has left the Estevan Bruins.
Rick Oakes had been the team's director of player personnel for 12 years, and in that role he acted as head scout, looking after the team's future.
Oakes resigned his post on Dec. 21.
"I think I've been with the organization for quite a while and it's time for a change for me, a new challenge, try something new," said Oakes, who is based in Moose Jaw.
Oakes said he will look back on his time with the Bruins fondly.
"I think overall, the organization's treated me very well and I was very happy to work for the team for 12 years. There were definitely a lot of highs and lows throughout."
Oakes said one of the biggest highs was being ranked No. 1 in Canada at the Christmas break during the 2004-05 season under head coach Kelvin MacKay.
He added that a personal low was the firing of head coach and general manager Karry Biette during the 2010-11 season.
Oakes said he has already received "overwhelming" interest in terms of other scouting opportunities and is planning to get back into the scouting game at some point, but for now he's enjoying the break.
Bruins head coach and general manager Keith Cassidy said Oakes' job will be done internally for the rest of the season and the team's scouting will be evaluated in the off-season.
"The short-term plans, obviously, are to keep the continuity of what we have going on and keep in touch with our prospects. Rick was in control in terms of listing and stuff like that. Being director of player personnel, it's a big job and he had his finger on the pulse of everything that was going on," said Cassidy.
"We're going to have to rely on our sources to make sure we're on top of what's going on in terms of kids' birthdays and when they're available to be listed. Rick and I worked fairly close in that department in terms of talking about who we targeted. Obviously that's something we'll have to do internally at this point.
"Over the long term, we're going to evaluate our scouting structure in terms of how we want to proceed. I think that was a mandate of the executive once this transpired. I think the long-term idea is to have a broader scouting structure for sure. How we're going to implement that is something we'll sit down as an organization and figure out," the coach added.
Oakes said he is confident that the Bruins' future is in good shape, naming prospects such as defencemen Jeremy Leclerc and Edwin Hookenson, forwards Lynnden Pastachak and Keegan Allison, and goalie Brett Lewchuk among the staples of the team's list.
"I'm pretty happy with what we've put together. I think the team's got a very solid list moving forward," Oakes said. "The pieces are there with this year's team to have success, it's just a matter of getting everyone on the same page."
