Former Blazers general manager Brown joins Giants as senior adviser

The Vancouver Giants’ front-office makeover continued Friday with the hiring of former Kamloops Blazers general manager Bob Brown as a senior adviser.

Brown, who guided the Blazers to three Memorial Cups in the 1990s, joins the Western Hockey League team after spending the past 16 seasons with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers as an amateur scout.

Before joining the Oilers, the Surrey resident experienced historic success in the WHL serving 10 seasons as GM of the Blazers from 1986 to 1995, and then five years with the Tri-City Americans as GM and vice-president. During his time in Kamloops, the Blazers won 435 games, captured seven WHL division titles, five WHL championships and appeared in five Memorial Cup tournaments.

“Bob Brown is one of the most highly respected, knowledgeable hockey minds in the business and he will be a welcome addition to our hockey operations staff,” said Giants GM Barclay Parneta. “Over the course of his career in hockey, Bob Brown has experienced so much success and his experience will be a huge asset for us as we continue our pursuit of a championship.”

Parneta, hired in May to replace outgoing GM Glen Hanlon, worked as a scout under Brown in Tri-City.

Brown, who also served as the Giants’ vice-president for part of the franchise’s inaugural 2001-02 WHL season, was inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2009.