From microphone to management: Scott Bridge named incoming

Mitchell Hawks GM for 2022-23 CKNX commentator to head up PJHL organization

DAN MCNEE dmcnee@midwesternnewspapers.com

MITCHELL – The connections and knowledge

Scott Bridge has obtained through his last decade working on the local hockey radio broadcast circuit will no doubt be invaluable in his new position with the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s (PJHL) Mitchell Hawks.

That was certainly outgoing Hawks General Manager Josh Keil’s thinking when he brought in the 37-year-old Listowel native and former CKNX AM 920 junior hockey commentator as his replacement. A Listowel resident himself, Keil will now be taking on the role of director of hockey operations for the reigning Pollockchampion Hawks, only two months removed from Mitchell’s first PJHL divisional title.

The Hawks made the official announcement of Bridge stepping into the general manager role on June 8.

“Josh had presented the idea to me. He brought everything to the table, went over the job description, and went over what he wanted me to do as the general manager,” said Bridge in a recent interview with the Banner. “It was pretty attractive; I like dealing with people, and that’s really what it’s all about.”

In addition to covering the local Junior C and B circuits for the better part of a decade from a media standpoint, Bridge also has extensive experience in management, formerly serving as the GM of his family’s feed business in Listowel. Now employed as an account manager with PBJ Cleaning Depot, Bridge believes he is up to the challenge of overseeing player transactions of a junior hockey club.

The fact that Assistant GM Holdyn Lansink and the trio of coaches on the bench led by Louie Livingston would be returning for the 2022-23 campaign also factored into his decision to join the organization.

“I think the nice part about making the transition is that I know a lot of the people inside the organization just from covering them with the radio station,” said Bridge. “Having those previous relationships goes a long way. It makes it more comfortable to ask questions. They know that you’re new, and I think they’re going to help with the transition big time.”

Bridge’s immediate task at hand will be supplementing the loss of some key players in Mitchell’s lineup. The Hawks will be losing four overage players heading into next season, including key defenseman Malcolm McLeod and starting goaltender Tyler Parr. Both played pivotal roles in Mitchell’s championship run that culminated in a lopsided 8-0 victory over the Hanover Barons in Game 7 of the Pollock Division Finals in mid-April.

The Hawks were then bounced in six games from the North Conference Finals by the Stayner Siskins.

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