COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have hired former National Hockey League player and scout Basil McRae as director of player personnel and promoted three members of the club’s scouting staff, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.

McRae, who served as a scout for the Blue Jackets in 2013-14 and the St. Louis Blues for five seasons prior, rejoins the organization after spending the past two years as part-owner, alternate governor and general manager of the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights. Last season, the Knights captured OHL and Memorial Cup championships.

In addition to nearly two decades of scouting experience, McRae played 16 seasons in the NHL between 1981-96, registering 53 goals and 83 assists for 136 points with 2,453 penalty minutes in 576 games with the Quebec Nordiques, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks. The Beaverton, Ontario native was a fifth round pick of Quebec in the 1980 NHL Draft.

In addition, the club announced that Head Amateur Scout Ville Siren has been named director of amateur scouting, while Chris Morehouse has been named assistant director of amateur scouting and Josef Boumedienne has been promoted to director of European scouting.



Siren joined the Blue Jackets as head amateur scout in July 2013 after spending nine years as a member of the Blues scouting staff. Morehouse has spent the past three seasons as both an amateur and pro scout with the club, while Boumedienne has been a European scout since retiring after a 17-year playing career in 2013.