NEW YORK/TORONTO (April 7, 2011) -- Edward John “EJ” McGuire, Vice President of the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Bureau and one of the most beloved and respected men in hockey, died of cancer today. He was 58.

McGuire had been director of Central Scouting since 2005. Prior to that, over nearly four decades in the sport, the congenial Buffalo native served as a head coach at the collegiate, junior and AHL levels; as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators and as a scout.

"The National Hockey League was privileged to benefit from EJ's expertise and enthusiasm, both of which were limitless,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “EJ loved scouting games and loved the internal debates over the strengths and weaknesses of Entry Draft prospects. The way he ran Central Scouting made it vitally important to every one of our Clubs.

“The NHL family has suffered a tremendous loss,” Commissioner Bettman added. “As we celebrate EJ’s contributions and mourn his passing, we send our condolences – and our gratitude – to EJ's family and friends."

McGuire is survived by his wife, Terry, and their daughters, Jacqueline and Erin.

"EJ was a colleague, a friend and a mentor who influenced and enriched the hockey lives of thousands of players, coaches, parents and administrators," said Colin Campbell, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. "As a coach, he combined attention to detail with innovation to teach the game to players at all levels -- from teenage, college and junior players to the elite professionals in the NHL. As Vice President of Central Scouting and a member of the Hockey Operations Department, he brought wisdom, guidance and unparalleled commitment to the game to advance it on so many levels.

"EJ had two loves in life: His love of family and his passion for hockey," Campbell said. "The hockey world extends its deepest sympathies to his wife and daughters."

Funeral arrangements will be announced once they are finalized.

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