Alan Hepple

Alan Hepple (born August 16, 1963) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is among the rare players born in England to have competed in the National Hockey League.

Playing career Chosen 169th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1982 NHL entry draft, he appeared in three NHL games for the Devils between 1983 and 1986, recording no points and accumulating seven penalty minutes. His professional career primarily took place in the minor leagues from 1983 to 1993, where he played with the Maine Mariners, Utica Devils and Newmarket Saints in the AHL, as well as the San Diego Gulls and Cincinnati Cyclones in the IHL.

Post-playing career Hepple continued his career in professional hockey by working as a scout for the Nashville Predators from 1997 to 2002, then moved to the Colorado Avalanche in the same capacity for the 2002–03 season. After seven years as a scout with Colorado, he was promoted to assistant Director of Amateur Scouting, a role he held for six seasons before being elevated to Director of Amateur Scouting ahead of the 2015–16 season.

Hepple's long association with the Avalanche came to an end after the 2020–21 season, when the organization chose not to renew his contract following his sixth year serving as Director of Amateur Scouting. This marked the conclusion of a 19-year tenure with the Avalanche, during which he held various roles including scout, assistant director, and head of amateur scouting. He was hired by the Arizona Coyotes to serve as their Director of Professional Scouting, a role he assumed just before the 2021 NHL entry draft.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1979–80 Owen Sound Kings MWJHL 36 10 18 28 50 — — — — — 1980–81 Ottawa 67's OHL 64 3 13 16 110 6 0 1 1 2 1981–82 Ottawa 67's OHL 66 6 22 28 160 17 2 10 12 84 1982–83 Ottawa 67's OHL 64 10 26 36 168 9 2 1 3 24 1983–84 Maine Mariners AHL 64 4 23 27 117 — — — — — 1983–84 New Jersey Devils NHL 1 0 0 0 7 — — — — — 1984–85 Maine Mariners AHL 80 7 17 24 125 11 0 3 3 30 1984–85 New Jersey Devils NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1985–86 Maine Mariners AHL 69 4 21 25 104 5 0 0 0 11 1985–86 New Jersey Devils NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1986–87 Maine Mariners AHL 74 6 19 25 137 — — — — — 1987–88 Utica Devils AHL 78 3 16 19 213 — — — — — 1988–89 Newmarket Saints AHL 72 5 29 34 122 5 0 1 1 23 1989–90 Newmarket Saints AHL 72 6 20 26 90 — — — — — 1990–91 Newmarket Saints AHL 76 0 18 18 126 — — — — — 1991–92 San Diego Gulls IHL 82 6 35 41 191 4 0 1 1 6 1992–93 San Diego Gulls IHL 10 0 1 1 27 — — — — — 1992–93 Cincinnati Cyclones IHL 70 7 31 38 201 — — — — — NHL totals 3 0 0 0 7 — — — — — AHL totals 585 35 163 198 1,034 21 0 4 4 64