PATS NOTES: TUER RETURNS, RUSSIAN DRAFTED

The Regina Pats Hockey Club is pleased to announce Graham Tuer has joined the organization as a Scout and Liaison to Hockey Regina.

Graham Tuer’s name is synonymous with hockey in the Queen City having been involved with the sport for over fifty years.  The Regina native has coached and/or managed hockey teams at every level of minor and junior hockey in Saskatchewan.

Tuer served as the Regina Pats’ Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel in the early ‘90s and was recognized by the club as one of the organization’s ‘builders’ in 2008.  In addition to his work with the Pats, Tuer managed the Regina Pat Canadians, winning an Air Canada Cup national Midget-AAA championship in 1988.  In 2007, Hockey Regina recognized Tuer by naming a tournament, the Graham Tuer Bantam AA Tournament, in his honour.

The Regina Sports Hall of Fame inductee (2012) has been on the board of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey league since 1983 and was an important contributor to creating the Saskatchewan Development Model.  Throughout his career in hockey, Tuer scouted for numerous WHL Teams and NHL Central Scouting.  He was awarded the WHL Distinguished Service Award in 2010.

This spring, Tuer was awarded the Hockey Canada Order of Merit (West), recognized as an individual who has served amateur hockey faithfully.

“I’m happy to be back and pleased with the organization and how it’s taking shape,” commented Graham Tuer.  “In my discussions with the coaching staff, I was very impressed with their vision and the empathy they show toward their players and their development.  It was difficult for me to leave a great organization like Kelowna, but it is wonderful to be a part of the Regina Pats again.  I’m told it looks natural for me to be a Regina Pat.”

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The Regina Pats Hockey Club has selected Russian defenceman Nikolai Knyzhov (’98) 41st overall in the 2015 CHL Import Draft.

Knyzhov is already playing in North America, spending the last two years playing in Phoenix, AZ.  The 6’1”, 170 lbs defender posted four points (1G, 3A) in 24 games with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (U16) in 2014-15.

“This is a rarity for the import draft in that our scouts had an opportunity to see Nikolai multiple times throughout the season,” said Regina Pats Head Coach and GM John Paddock.  “We know he wants to come play junior hockey in Canada so it made the pick much easier.  We look forward to seeing him in Regina for training camp in August.”