I had the luxury of working for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League as a CSR Scout for the past 4 years, and the Yarmouth Mariners as a regional scout for a couple of years.
For the record, a lot of people are probably asking why I decided to resign from all scouting positions this past Spring. All roads led me back to one thing – too much of a good thing, isn’t always a good thing. As much as I love running hockey businesses, scouting, consulting, and coaching hockey… I needed to pick a couple of those roles and focus on them vs spreading myself too thin. After a long chat with my family – my dad especially, who knows all too well about working multiple roles in hockey – we came to the conclusion that the best thing for me to do in 2024-25 was to scale back my involvement in some aspects, while putting more energy into others. So here we are.
What is a QMJHL CSR Scout?
The QMJHL CSR is a group of individuals native to the Eastern Canadian region; these people work as a team to rank 15 and 16 year old prospects to produce a “Draft List”. This list is an estimate of where players might be drafted (which round(s). In order to be drafted into the QMJHL, a players name must be on the Final Draft List. As long as a player is ranked on the Draft List, they can be selected in any round of the draft (or not selected at all).
Clear as mud? Thought so. For more info on the CSR, click here .
There are multiple versions of this Draft List (depending on the time of year), with the CSR Final List coming out roughly 1 month before the particular leagues Draft. The QMJHL does its CSR team is it breaks the Eastern Canadian territory into regions – one representative for each Atlantic Canadian province, and multiple Quebec representatives (with a CSR Head Scout, who oversees the entire operation). Basically, it’s a team of people who – for the most part – have impressive hockey backgrounds. Some have played in the Q before, some guys were cut on like the first day of camp (me), and some were lifetime scouts with Junior/U18 programs that have seen countless players graduate from the lower levels to the higher ones. Each provincial representative is in charge of a specific territory – mine was Newfoundland and Labrador, and players born in NL but playing outside the territory (US/Canadian prep). This is why parents/players would see me at DF Barnes Arena some Friday nights, froze ta det down in the corner (I have poor circulation).
Without further adieu, here are some of my completely honest takes on being a hockey scout
Take #1 – You Watch a LOT of Hockey
While technology such as InStat and TPE (The Prospect Exchange) cut down on how much hockey you watch (for example – on Instat, you can watch a specific players shifts for an entire game), you still watch an absurd amount of hockey as a hockey scout.
For the Annual Monctonian U18 Challenge, a typical tournament day would be: breakfast at the hotel, little workout at the hotel gym, head to the rink for anywhere between 4-6 games (we’d go for lunch and supper most times), back to the hotel to discuss what we saw, and that’s about all. Do it again the next day. Then the next.
At the QMJHL Cup in Boisbriand (End of April any given year; an awesome scouting event to be a part of), there is usually 6 teams at the event and each team plays 1X per day for 4 straight days. Games are 2 hours long. 6 hours a day x 4 days = 24 hours of action.
My boss with the QMJHL watched as much hockey as I did last year, multiplied by about… 50X. I’m not joking. As the Head CSR Scout, my bosses territory was all of Eastern Canada. This might not seem like a big area to some, but in Quebec alone, there is U18AAA / U17AAA / RSEQ + QC players playing in the US Prep system + QC players playing in Western Canadian Prep. That’s just one province. Add 4 more to the palat, and it’s a full time job just keeping up with it.
Take #2 – Some Venues Are Awesome. Some Are Not.
There are venues (rinks) that are just great rinks to scout in. Warm temperatures, a little private area to take notes, great sightlines, in a vantage point that is close enough to the action where you can “feel the speed of the players”.
There are other venues where you’re squished in between two hockey parents who refuse to stop screaming at the officials. If you’re one of those parents, read my article on this here. It’s an ineffective use of your time, spoiler alert . Or you’re in an Igloo for 4 games in a row. Or you’re in a rink that you’d need an 8×30 pair of binoculars to see because the lighting is those old High Pressure Sodium bulbs. If you’re a scout, you’re going to experience rinks of all shapes, sizes and temperatures baby. Plan accordingly.
Take #3 – You Can Add a Couple Pounds to the Frame
Being a scout means you’re on the road a fair bit – especially if you’re working at higher levels (NHL, pro). Your Hilton Honours Points grow pretty fast, but so does the waistline if you’re not careful. You’re sitting down/sedentary for long periods of time, you’re eating on the run a lot of the time (ie grab a quick lunch and get back to the rink for the next game, stop at whatever is close to the rink even if the sign has yellow arches). If you’re lucky enough to work the events that are catered, you’re going to see some of your favourites on the table – donuts, muffins, foods that go immediately to the hips upon consumption. Items that make you feel good while you’re eating them, but not so good for the minutes to hours afterward.
Take #4 – You Learn to Appreciate a Good Camera Angle
I started my scouting career during the COVID-19 lockdown stretches. What a challenge that was! At some rinks, the cameraperson just can’t get up high enough to get a good camera angle of the ice. Or the WiFi at the arena was bad and the video is very blurry/choppy. Or the strem was on LiveBarn, which to this day gives me a headache every time (I’m high maintenance). Or there’s absolutely no sound – which I think takes away from the overall enjoyment of the game for me.
That said, teams live streams have gotten so much better in the NL U18 Major circuit. In 2023-24, there were numerous nights where I forego the trek to the Glacier because the live stream/play-by-play was excellent. Kudos to the teams ‘video people’, it did not go unnoticed in my living room!
Take #5 – You Can’t Be Stubborn
In the scouting industry, you have to be willing to give players some runway to show what they can do; you can’t judge a player after 1 period, shift, or viewing.
I remember going to a Maritime-based event my first year working with the QMJHL; I was new, I was brash, and I – in comparison to my colleagues – was the worst hockey player. In other words – I wanted to prove that I belonged. My boss marked off some first year players that I had to take a closer look at. I watched this one player for one game and thought that I had him all figured out. I did not see what my colleagues were saying – so I told them so. Every time I watched that specific player until Christmas, I was very quick to point out his flaws to try and prove to them that I was right. My boss would say “give it time” and I was like “nah man I’m sold, I’m right and you guys are wrong”.
By March, the player was showing signs of top-tier talent almost every viewing (he ended up being a high QMJHL Draft pick).
I didn’t give it enough time.
When you’re scouting, you have to allot players some time. One period, one game is just not enough. The player might be injured that game but playing banged up. He/she might be sick, going through something mentally, who knows. You have to watch a player multiple times across multiple months before marrying yourself to an assessment.
Take #6 – You’re Part of a Bigger Picture
As much as you might think you’re really important because you’re wearing “the jacket”… if your title is “regional scout” you’re a small part of a bigger picture. A large picture with a lot of different viewpoints. Teams scouting systems usually have regional scouts, with a Head Scout who summarizes all the regional scouts findings for the General Manager who – sometimes along with the owner depending on how hands on the owner(s) are – make the final call on draft selections. There are times where you might be the only one who sees Player A as a cornerstone defenceman for your franchise for years to come. If no one on the scouting team sees it that way, your opinion might not get wings per se. That being said, if you’re a scout who – year in year out – turns water into wine for the team you’re working for, if you feel real strongly about a player(s), it might warrant another look from the GM/Head Scout. For example, I’m certain that the Detroit Red Wings gave a lot of leeway to their European scouts after their exceptional job in that territory during their late-90’s/early 2000’s glory years. When you uncover Pavel Datsyuk 171st overall and Henrik Zetterburg 210th overall, you’re probably putting your feet up on the table at meetings.
Take #7 – You’re (Likely) Not Getting Rich Doing It
This one kind of depends on the role, the league, and the amount of money the team/league has. For example – if you’re a head scout of an NHL team, you’re making a decent dime. But if you’re a regional scout for a Junior ‘A’ team or most leagues around the world that aren’t major pro, you’ll need a second job. Some scouting roles will be volunteer, some will pay for your gas/kilometres, some will pay for your expenses so it isn’t costing you anything, others pay 4 figure salaries per year. It varies. However, none of the above pay grades are making you a living wage. I’m sure higher-ups in most top leagues across the world do just fine financially, but the smaller role guys/girls likely aren’t.
Take #8 – It’s A LOT Of Fun
If you love hockey as much as I do, scouting is a lot of fun. You’re interacting with knowledgeable hockey people on the daily. You’re having hockey chats with people who become good friends over time. Faces become familiar at every rink on the East Coast; as humans, we are drawn to familiarity and I felt that sitting in frigid Rink B at the Superior Propane Centre every November had become familiar.
There’s comradery. A scattered 2 piece Chicken Dinner from Dixie Lee. Some thank you messages, and some hate mail. Add it all up, and the result was something that I will miss for a long time.
Until Next Time
AP