Nanaimo Coun. Bill Bestwick, who suddenly pulled out of the city’s mayoral race because of an unspecified business opportunity, says he has accepted a position as an amateur scout for the National Hockey League's St. Louis Blues.
"My duties in this capacity commence immediately and I welcome this challenge and opportunity working for the St. Louis Blues," says an email from Bestwick, a former coach for the Victoria Grizzlies and Nanaimo Clippers.
Bestwick said he was approached by Blues pro scout Tony Feltrin about his interesting in entering professional hockey's scouting world.
"I was shortlisted and subsequently offered the position last week, and sent the contract back today," Bestwick said in an interview with the Daily News. "I'm very excited about it."
His duties will include scouting players in the Western Hockey League's British Columbia and United States divisions in the league's Western Conference, along with the B.C. Hockey League.
Bestwick was released in December 2013 in his second year as head coach of the BCHL's Victoria Grizzlies before accepting a job as the head coach of the Junior B Oceanside Generals, as well as a senior advisor position with the Clippers.
He coached the Clippers for 14 seasons, from 1988-90, and from 1999 to 2011.
In that time he guided them to two BCHL championships.
As an NHL scout, Bestwick will be doing some travelling and that’s why he was not able to stay in Nanaimo's mayoral election. He will still seek re-election as a councilor.
"I'm sure that I'll have a full schedule," he said.
"More than anything, it's Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. If there's mid-week games on Tuesdays or Wednesdays that I can get to that are easily accessible on the Island, then I will be (there), but I'll be mostly in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and a little bit into the Interior."
