On July 30, 2024, in Okotoks, Alberta, the WCPHS Foundation will host its very first Wall of Honor Induction dinner. John Chapman and the late Gerry Melnyk, both esteemed longtime Flyers scouts, will be among the distinguished individuals being inducted.

Although scouts are rarely inducted into the Builders category of the Hockey Hall of Fame, their contributions to the success of National Hockey League franchises and their farm teams are invaluable. Recognizing the significance of scouting in the western regions of Canada, the WCPHS Foundation was established with the aim of cataloging its rich history and honoring the influential scouts who have shaped it throughout different eras.

Melnyk serves as a perfect illustration. It is highly improbable for him to be honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto after his passing. Many Flyers fans, particularly the younger ones, may not even recognize the significant impact he had on the organization throughout his extensive time with Philadelphia (1969 to 1997). Nevertheless, the entire trajectory of the Flyers and the NHL itself would have undergone substantial alterations had it not been for his invaluable contributions.

Melnyk gained significant recognition when he strongly advocated for the Flyers to choose Bobby Clarke, the talented center from Flin Flon Bombers, during the 1969 Amateur Draft. Several teams, including the Flyers themselves, hesitated to select Clarke in the initial round due to his Type 1 diabetes. However, Melnyk strongly objected to this perception.

Following the Flyers’ decision to pick Bob Currier in the initial round, Melnyk strongly advocated for general manager Keith Allen to select Clarke when he was still obtainable in the second round. Allen, persuaded by Melnyk’s conviction, made the choice, and the outcome became an integral part of the team’s history. In that very same year, the Flyers also opted for junior players from western Canada, including Dave Schultz from the Swift Current Broncos, Don Saleski from the Regina Pats, and Wille Brossart from the Swift Current and Estevan Bruins.

As Melnyk advanced in his scouting career, he discovered numerous potential Draft prospects from various regions including the western provinces of Canada, the United States, and overseas. Among his notable findings were Pelle Lindbergh, a Swedish goaltender selected in the 1979 Draft, and Ron Hextall, a goalie from the Brandon Wheat Kings chosen in 1982. Remarkably, both these netminders went on to achieve the prestigious Vezina Trophy in the NHL.

From the seasons of 1983-84 to 1995-96, Melnyk held the position of Chief Scout for the Flyers. During this time, he acted as a mentor to numerous aspiring scouts and gained the trust and respect of his colleagues in the profession.

According to Dennis Patterson, a former player and longtime Ontario-based scout for the Flyers, Gerry used to emphasize that when it comes to scouting young players, talent is irreplaceable. Patterson shared this insight with the late Jay Greenberg for the book Flyers at 50.

Melnyk was not concerned with being possessive. The origin of a player or the opinions of scouts did not matter to him. He always emphasized the importance of teamwork and trust among individuals. However, if Melnyk had a strong stance on a particular player, regardless of whether it favored or opposed their selection over another candidate, he would express his views explicitly.

“In Flyers at 50, Simon Nolet, a former Flyers player turned scout, emphasized that there was no distinction of ownership over players. Gerry’s statement, ‘No kid is ‘my player or your player,’ resonated with the team’s collaborative effort in scouting and selecting players for the Flyers. The collective objective was to bring in the best players for the team, transcending personal interests. It was never about any individual, but rather about prioritizing the players and the overall success of the team.”

On June 14, 2001, at the age of 66, Melnyk passed away.

Chapman, nicknamed “Chappy” by his coworkers, dedicated 27 years of his career as a Flyer scout starting in 1996 until his retirement in 2023. Prior to that, he had valuable experience working for the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers.

During his long tenure with the Flyers, Chapman served as an amateur scout, pro scout, director of player development and director of player personnel.
“I can’t count the miles I traveled with Chappy, the games we viewed or the hours we talked on the road,” Nolet told Greenberg.

Blair Reid and the late Pat “Paddy” Ginnell, along with Chapman and Melnyk, are the esteemed individuals comprising the first group of inductees into the WCPHS Wall of Fame. While Reid had a direct connection to the Flyers, Ginnell’s involvement was more indirect. Nonetheless, both men had remarkable careers that contributed to their rightful place in this prestigious honor.

Ginnell, after coaching the Western League’s Flin Flon Bombers, spent 14 seasons scouting in western Canada for the St. Louis Blues. During his time in Flin Flon, Ginnell had the opportunity to coach notable players such as Clarke, who would later become a prominent figure in the Flyers franchise, and Leach, who would go on to be inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame and win the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy.

Ginnell was instrumental in organizing Clarke’s visit to the renowned Mayo Clinic, where medical experts determined that diabetes would not hinder the hockey player’s professional career.

Reid served as a scout for the Seattle Thunderbird, a team in the Western Hockey League, during Russ Farwell’s tenure as general manager. When Farwell became the general manager for the Flyers in the NHL from 1990 to 1994, he brought on Reid as a part-time scout for the team in the western region. Afterward, Reid went on to have extensive careers in amateur scouting with the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, and Boston Bruins. He recently retired in 2021.

Finally, it is important to mention that Bill Lesuk, who has connections to the Flyers, is also one of the first inductees. Lesuk had a ten-year career in the NHL and WHA, playing for the Flyers from 1970-71 to part of 1971-72. After his playing days, he worked as a scout for the original Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, and Phoenix Coyotes.