Edmonton Oilers President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe announced Thursday the hiring of Randy Hansch as General Manager of the Edmonton Oil Kings. He replaces former GM Bob Green, who had been promoted earlier in the week to Director of Amateur Free Agent Scouting for the Oilers. Hansch had previously served as the Assistant GM and Director of Player Personnel for the Oil Kings since the team’s reincarnation back in 2007-08.

PHOTO CREDIT - WHL.ca

Edmonton - August 15, 2013 - Edmonton Oilers President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe announced Thursday the hiring of Randy Hansch as General Manager of the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Hansch had previously served as the Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel for the Oil Kings since the team’s reincarnation for the 2007-08 WHL season.

Hansch was an integral part of building the 2012 WHL Championship and 2013 Eastern Conference Championship rosters.

The Edmonton native played a big role in the Oil Kings’ performance at the WHL Bantam Draft in each of the last six years, as he and his scouting staff have identified and selected the core of those teams, including the likes of Laurent Brossoit, Curtis Lazar, Griffin Reinhart and Michael St. Croix.

Hansch becomes the second general manager in modern franchise history, succeeding Bob Green who joined the Oilers Wednesday as Director of Amateur Free Agent Scouting.

"First of all I would like to Congratulate Bob Green on his new appointment with the Edmonton Oilers," Hansch said.

"I feel very fortunate and look forward to starting my new position with the Edmonton Oil Kings. I am thankful for the entire group that I have worked with over the years, as without them this opportunity would have never happened."

Prior to joining the Oil Kings, Hansch, 47, served for 15 years as a scout with the Kamloops Blazers. He also worked for the Calgary Flames and Tampa Bay Lightning. He played four seasons in the WHL as a goaltender with the Blazers and Victoria Cougars. Hansch was a sixth round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 1984, and has also played in the AHL, IHL and ECHL, as well as with the Canadian National Team.