By Chad Klassen

Blazers alum Chase Souto excelling in life after hockey

Aug 9, 2018 | 6:05 PM

KAMLOOPS — Chase Souto’s hockey career didn’t end the way he would’ve liked, but with multiple concussions, he knew he had to pull the plug during his 19-year-old season. 

“I had a pretty bad one there in my last year at 19, but I know that I wanted to have a good life after hockey,” said Souto, who played with the Blazers from 2010-14 and had his career shortened by concussions. “I wasn’t signed, I wasn’t drafted, so I wanted to pursue hockey on the other side of the bench.”

Souto was back in Kamloops on Thursday for the annual Blazers alumni golf tournament at Rivershore. He moved back to his home in California after his playing career was over with the Blazers. It’s in California where he’s the assistant general manager of the Junior Kings, L.A.’s equivalent to the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association. 

“It’s awesome. In three years I’ve been there, we’ve had numerous players come out of our program. The biggest name recently is Kailer Yamamoto, he got drafted in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers,” noted Souto. “Other kids that have come through our program, Jake McGrew was just here in Kamloops for the Summer Showcase for the world juniors playing for Team USA.”

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Souto will be staying more connected with the Blazers after being hired as a scout this week by general manager Matt Bardsley, who’s put Souto in charge of scouting the talent down south. 

“When the changes occurred here a little bit ago, I just sent in my resume and got a call from Mr. Bardsley a few weeks later and he said ‘would you like to join our scouting staff?’ and I said I’d love to,” he said. “I’m going to be working with our midget team down there. I see a lot of the kids from Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Minnesota a little bit, too, so just help out the team and see if we can get some American blood back up here.”

Also getting a scouting job recently is fellow Blazers alum Greg Hawgood, who was hired last week by the Chicago Blackhawks as a part-time Western Hockey League scout. 

I’m pretty excited,” said Hawgood, who played with the team from 1983-88. “It was a bit of a long process, but things worked out for the best, so I’m excited for the season coming up.”

After his pro hockey career ended in 2006, Hawgood took a step back from the game to take in his kids’ activities. But he felt now was the right time. 

“All my kids are off to university now. When my hockey career was over, it was time to get a regular job and watch their sports and spend time with them,” said Hawgood. “Now that they’re off at university, I thought if someone was willing to give me an opportunity that the time was right.”

For Souto, he’s proud to be back with the organization that he called home for four years. 

“Yeah I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t [excited to be back with the Blazers]. This is a first-class organization. You can see by the draw that it gets even to a golf tournament like this. The alumni and people around here, it’s something special to be part of this organization. I’m very thankful that I got a chance here.”