On Wednesday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks announced a series of moves in their front office, completing their Hockey Operations Leadership Team.
Mark Eaton will remain in the role of assistant general manager, development. In this role, Eaton will oversee the Rockford IceHogs, as well as all amateur and professional player development and performance. He has been with the organization since 2014.
Meghan Hunter has been promoted to the role of assistant general manager, hockey operations. Hunter will oversee budgeting, team services, contract execution, team security and player services. She joined the team in 2016 after working with the Canadian Women’s National Hockey Team and the London Knights in the OHL.
Hunter becomes the fourth female assistant general manager in NHL history, joining current AGMs Émilie Castonguay and Downers Grove native Cammi Granato, both of whom are in Vancouver currently in the roles. Granato became the NHL’s first female scout when the Kraken hired her in September 2019; she left for the Canucks’ job in February. Angela Gorgone was the first female AGM in the NHL when she was named to the role with the (then Mighty) Ducks during the 1996-97 season.
Karilyn Pilch has been promoted to director of player personnel. She joined the Blackhawks in 2021 as a Scout, Player Personnel after serving as the general manager of the Boston Pride of the Premier Hockey Federation.
And former Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell will remain in his role of advisor in the hockey operations department.
Hunter played at the University of Wisconsin where she was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award (given to the top female college hockey player in the United States) in 2001. Pilch played her college hockey at Boston University where she continued as Director of Hockey Operations after graduating.
“As I said before, this foundation for leadership will help our shared vision for the future become a reality,” general manager Kyle Davidson said in the team’s statement. “Our goal is to be best-in-class in all we do, and organizing a structure and defining roles behind the scenes is an important step. I have a lot of faith and trust in this leadership team, along with the staff who works under them, and I look forward to working with our entire group to build a successful team on the ice.”
More from the Blackhawks can be found in their press release this afternoon:
Mark Eaton will remain in his role as Assistant GM, Development. Brian Campbell has been named Advisor, Hockey Operations and Karilyn Pilch has been promoted to Director of Player Personnel.https://t.co/8YHq2IucFY— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 22, 2022
