BRANDON - Vaughn Karpan's stint with the Brandon University men's hockey team was short and sweet, but was the launching point for a tremendous career in sport, both on the ice and off.
 
Karpan, who was born in Flin Flon, and raised in The Pas, was a member of arguably the best Bobcat hockey team ever. In 1980-81, BU achieved a No. 1 ranking in Canada for the only time in program history. Brandon was almost unbeatable that season going 23-and-1, en route to winning the Great Plains Athletic Conference and earning a berth to nationals.
 
"It was the first time that I played on a team where we expected to win every night and we usually did. I never lost that feeling ever again in my life. I don't know if I played on a team full of better character guys."
 
Karpan joined the Bobcats after playing in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with the Brandon Travellers and the 1979-80 Western Hockey League season with the Wheat Kings.
 
At 19-years-old, Karpan was the youngest player on BU's roster and enjoyed a solid freshman season in 80-81.
 
He scored 11 goals and 25 points and was named the team's rookie of the year.
 
"It was a launching period for me to get my career really going again after spinning my wheels as a junior player."
 
Being a Bobcat was the kick-start that Karpan needed to take his game to another level.
 
Karpan continued his university career with the Manitoba Bisons from 1982-1985. He totaled 98 goals and 169 points while serving as captain of the U-of-M.
 
The ultimate accomplishment came in 1984 and 1988 when he represented Canada's men's hockey team at the Olympics.
 
"If someone would have told me when I was 19-years-old with the Bobcats that I would be doing that over the next eight years I probably would have bet against it. I probably would have been pretty happy to even have dreamt it."

The '88 Winter Games in Calgary saw a rare and special situation unfold.
 
Karpan was one of three Bobcats from the 80-81 team to represent three different countries.
 
Vernon Mott played with Norway and Bruno Rogger was with Switzerland.
 
"We never got a picture together or anything like that, it was a different time. It was an extra kinship that you had that went beyond the game. It was kind of unique."
 
After retiring from his player career, Karpan made a highly successful transition to the front office in the National Hockey League. His first job came in 1993 as an amateur scout with the original Winnipeg Jets.
 
The storied Montreal Canadiens franchise brought him into the fold in 2005 and in 2015 he was appointed as their Director of Professional Scouting.
 
"They are the New York Yankees of the NHL. They have won 24 Stanley Cups and expectations are high every night. It was a good place to work and they treat you well."
 
The Las Vegas Golden Knights arrival opened a new door of opportunity for Karpan to capitalize on.
 
General manager George McPhee assembled a team of familiar faces including longtime Wheat Kings' owner Kelly McCrimmon. Karpan was hired as Director of Player Personnel in August 2016.
 
"You go with the people and it was because of my relationship with Kelly and I knew George was a loyal guy to his people. From a career point of view, it was a chance to add to my skills and keep improving my skill set."
 
The Golden Knights are in the midst of a busy month. Las Vegas will unveil their roster on June 21 as part of the league awards night followed by the NHL Entry Draft on June 23-24.
 
"Getting the expansion draft in order has been my primary responsibility this year. It is a once in a lifetime type of deal."
 
Karpan recently celebrated a silver anniversary after completing his 25^th year as scout.
 
His success stems back to his ties to the Bobcats and the connections he made in the Wheat City.
 
In 2013, he was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.
 
"A lot of good things happened to me because of my time in Brandon, that is the best way that I can put it."