Other Sports
Panthers name Birch to front office post
By The Source
Aug 4, 2004

Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - The Florida Panthers Tuesday named Jack Birch director of hockey operations.

Birch, 50, brings more than 25 years of hockey knowledge and experience to the Panthers. He served as Vancouver's director of amateur scouting from 1997-99 and worked with Panthers general manager Mike Keenan, who served as the Canucks head coach for parts of those two seasons. Birch spent a total of seven years with the Vancouver organization, serving as an amateur scout from 1992-97.

"I am thrilled to add Jack to our hockey operations staff," Keenan said. "He is a brilliant hockey mind who has extensive knowledge in player development, recruitment, scouting, contract preparation and negotiations. He is well respected around the league and is a valuable addition to our team."

The Peterborough, Ontario native began his career in the National Hockey League when he served as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers from 1985-87.

Prior to joining the Panthers, Birch served as President of J.B. Scouting Service. His worldwide scouting service specialized in the evaluation and ranking of players at the professional and amateur levels throughout North America and Europe while providing management consulting to several NHL, CHL and European teams.