Spits snag seasoned scout
Mark Seidel has been scouting hockey players since he was 20 years old. And the veteran bird dog — he will turn 55 years of age on August 25 — is bringing his scouting savvy and well known work ethic to the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.
Seidel, who originally hails from the small northern Ontario town of Espanola — which is about 40 miles west of Sudbury — joins the Spitfires as director of scouting and right hand man to general manager Billy Bowler. He takes over the position previously held by Frank Evola, who recently departed the Spitfires to become the new general manager of the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs.
Bowler noted that Seidel “is someone who lives and breathes hockey … I think his passion for scouting and identifying players is obvious.”
The junior hockey saga of Seidel already has several chapters.
Seidel, who was the commissioner of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for a time, has been operating the North American Independent Central Scouting service since 1990. He has also worked in scouting and player personnel positions for several OHL teams, including the Erie Otters, Owen Sound Attack, Niagara IceDogs and — most recently — the Barrie Colts. Seidel has also served as an amateur scout for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League.
From his end, Seidel told Hockey News Windsor that he is “beyond thrilled to be joining such a first class organization as the Windsor Spitfires. I have the utmost respect for Billy (Bowler) and as you know, he and the Spitfires are very well thought of in the hockey world from the owners on down. Personally, I am truly humbled for the opportunity to be working for the Windsor Spitfires. You have known me a long time and I think you know how seriously I take my work.”
Indeed.
Seidel’s initial duties with the Spitfires will include him assisting Bowler at the July 2 Canadian Hockey League import draft.
