Thursday 28 August 2014

Harris & Armstrong Named Ast GM's

ROYALS NAME HARRIS & ARMSTONG ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGERS
Victoria’s Jeff Harris and Grant Armstrong promoted to assistant general manager roles.

For Immediate Release
Thursday, August 28, 2014

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals are proud to announce that Jeff Harris and Grant Armstrong will each assume assistant general manager roles with the club, effective immediately.

Harris will take on the role of Assistant General Manager, Hockey Operations and Communications after spending the past three seasons as the Royals’ Director of Hockey Operations and Communications.

“Jeff’s front office experience, in both the professional and junior ranks, is extensive,” Royals’ General Manager Cameron Hope said. “He has been an extremely important part of the growth of this franchise in Victoria, and with this promotion his role continues to expand.”

Prior to joining the Royals in the club’s inaugural season, the Calgary, AB native worked four seasons with the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL as the team’s Assistant General Manager and Director of Media and Community Relations. Harris also served as the play-by-play voice of the Salmon Kings and represented the club at the 2011 ECHL All Star Game. The ECHL also recognized Harris as the Media Relations Director of the Year for the 2007-08 season. Harris began his career in hockey during the 2006-07 season with the Calgary Hitmen where he served as the team’s Assistant Communications Coordinator.

Harris has considerable experience in professional sports and also spent time with the Calgary 88’s of the World Basketball League and the Pacific Coast League’s Vancouver Canadians. Harris earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Communications from Mount Royal College in Calgary.

Armstrong, a native of North Vancouver, B.C., will assume the role of Assistant General Manager, Player Personnel after spending the previous two seasons as the Director of Player Personnel for the Royals. 

"Grant has done a great job with our scouting group, identifying talent and overseeing the development of our young prospects," Hope said. "Our organizational philosophy is to build from within, and Grant’s keen eye for talent is already paying dividends.”

The 52-year-old joined the Royals in 2012 after spending four seasons as Head Scout for the Portland Winterhawks. Working under former Head Coach and General Manager Mike Johnston since 2008, Armstrong played an integral role in each of Portland’s WHL Bantam Drafts, Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Drafts and player signings during his tenure while also coordinating the club’s scouting department. During Armstrong’s time as Head Scout, the Winterhawks captured a U.S. Division title in 2010-11 and reached the WHL Final in back-to-back seasons.

Armstrong has been heavily involved in British Columbia hockey for much of his life. During the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, Armstrong held the Head Coach position with the North Delta Devils Junior B team in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League. At the same time, Armstrong served as North Vancouver Minor Hockey Association’s Director of Hockey Operations. Since 1995, Armstrong has also been involved with the North Delta Minor Hockey Association as both a coach and development coordinator, earning the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association’s Coaching Development Award in 2003 for his accomplishments within the association.

2014-15 season tickets starting from $414 and mini-packs from $49 are on sale now! Call 250-220-7889, visit www.selectyourtickets.com, or head down to the Victoria Royals ticketing office at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre to pick up your seats and guarantee your spot at the September 26th home opener

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For further information contact:

Corey St. Laurent
Manager of Communications and Hockey Operations Coordinator
Victoria Royals Hockey Club
250-220-2613