With apologies to Steve Martin and the late John Candy, departing assistant GM Jeff Harris’ final task with the Victoria Royals on Thursday was getting the players onto their correct planes, trains and automobiles for their various trips home from the Kelowna hub following the WHL season.
Harris pretty much did it all over 14 seasons total with the junior Royals and pro Salmon Kings of the ECHL before that, from play-by-play broadcaster and communications manager to assistant GM. About all he didn’t do was sweep the tape off the dressing room floor, but he would have done that too if required.
“Jeff was my right hand,” said Royals GM and head coach Dan Price.
Harris is leaving the club to become executive vice-president of communications for sa国际传媒 Hockey, re-joining former Royals GM and current sa国际传媒 Hockey CEO Cam Hope.
Harris will be communicating the procedures to the organizations, managers, coaches and players — from youth to oldtimers — when grassroots hockey re-opens across the province.
“We are looking to bring hockey back and bring it back the right way in sa国际传媒 and Yukon. Communication will be key in that process,” said Harris.
The Calgary-native said he leaves behind fond memories of the Royals and Salmon Kings.
“The ECHL was so much fun. We had three WHL scoring champions on our Salmon Kings team one season. People underestimate just how good that league, and level of pro, is,” said Harris.
His favourite Royals memory is of Calgary Flames draft-pick Matthew Phillips throwing himself at the puck to make a Game 7 and series-saving shot block with his face against Vancouver. The backstory was the year before, a Kelowna Game 7 shot from the point had gone in with just .02 seconds remaining to deny the league regular-season champion Royals.
“I got to know the players on both the Salmon Kings and Royals as people, and cared about them, and still keep in touch with many of them,” said Harris.
