Mike McAulay was hired as the Assistant General Manager and Director of Scouting for the Niverville Nighthawks in January of 2022. The first hire for the team after General Manager Kelvin Cech was hired, Mike brings extensive experience in scouting at the Junior A level.
“It was part of the initial conversation when I was hired,” said Cech. “We built an impressive roster in our first year in Winkler under our boss Jeff Jeanson, so there’s a comfort level and trust.”
Originally born in Winnipeg, Mike currently resides in La Salle, Manitoba. He counts his minor hockey days as some of his most cherished, particularly a provincial championship in Stonewall, three zone four championships in Carman, and a silver medal in the Western Canadian Championships with the St. Malo Warriors under legendary coach Ralph Collette. Mike’s playing career wrapped up at the University of Minnesota-Crookston, where he considers his career to have come full circle after winning an MCHA championship. This is also where he met Scott Oliver, who currently serves as the Nighthawk’s regional scout in Upper Midwest Minnesota.
“I’ve spent a lot of time on the ice and on the bench myself, but watching my three children celebrate the highs and learn from the lows rivals my own time in the game,” said McAulay. “That’s probably the scout in me talking.”
Together with his scouting team, Mike was successful in finding and recruiting players to the MJHL who have gone on to post impressive contributions in their junior days and beyond.
“I spent three seasons with the Winkler Flyers as their Assistant General Manager and Head Scout working along side a good friend and mentor Jeff Jeanson who gave me my start in administration and scouting at the Junior A level,” McAulay said. “It was in Winkler where I also had the chance to work with Coach Cech so the transition to the Nighthawks has been relatively seamless . It’s a privilege to have an opportunity to be a part of something this special.”
For Mike and all the staff hired prior to the team’s inaugural season, it’s important to express gratitude to the team off the ice responsible for making junior A hockey in Niverville a reality.
“It all starts with Clarence Braun, the board of directors and their adoration for the community of Niverville as well as their big picture vision,” said McAulay. “It became apparent early in the process that Clarence, the board, and the shareholder group was committed to building a successful MJHL program in Niverville and I’m proud and honoured to be a part of it. We’re surrounded with outstanding people in all facets of the organization who share that vision and have been working tirelessly to bring it all together.”
The Nighthawks’ first regular season begins in mid September, and McAulay, Cech, and everyone involved in large part or small is eager to see the next step in the process.
“We can’t wait to drop the puck in September and continue to share this journey with the people of Niverville and surrounding communities.”