TORONTO -- Mark Hunter is leaving his junior hockey empire with the London Knights to join the Toronto Maple Leafs as director of player personnel.
Hunter spent 12 seasons as owner, vice-president and general manager of the Ontario Hockey League franchise and briefly filled in as coach when his brother Dale went to the Washington Capitals.
"I am looking forward to the start of a new chapter in Toronto," Hunter said in a team statement.
Hunter will oversee the Maple Leafs' pro and amateur scouting and player evaluation departments. Those jobs were previously done by assistant general manager Dave Poulin, who was fired over the summer.
By hiring Hunter, president Brendan Shanahan is putting another stamp on the organization. In addition to firing Poulin and assistant GM Claude Loiselle and most of coach Randy Carlyle's staff, Shanahan hired Kyle Dubas in the off-season and created an analytics department.
Shanahan played for the Knights from 1985-1987, pre-dating the Hunters' ownership. But he does have a good relationship with Mark and Dale.
Former NHLer Basil McRae, a co-owner along with the Hunters, is taking over as Knights GM.
Hunter, a 51-year-old native of Petrolia, Ont., played 12 NHL seasons for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Hartford Whalers and Capitals.
