TORONTO -- It's a bittersweet day here at the NHL office on the third day of meetings for NHL Central Scouting.
The group is into the fourth round of projections on its master list of the top draft eligible North American skaters, but are doing so with heavy hearts.That's because two years ago to the day, a dedicated friend, father and the former director of NHL Central Scouting, EJ McGuire, died from an incurable, rare form of cancer, Leiomyoscarcoma.
McGuire waged a brave five-month battle with the disease before passing in the early morning of April 7, 2011. Every scout in the board room no doubt will reminisce about their friend at some point, or recall a moment in time when he made a profound impact on their lives in some fashion.