Dave Westby

(Oct. 7, 1960 — March 17, 2026)

Born in Long Prairie, Minn., he played football and hockey at Willmar, Minn., High School, then went on to play hockey at U of Wisconsin-River Falls. . . . Did stints as an assistant coach at U of Maine and Colorado College before getting into scouting. . . . Was in his 22nd season as an amateur scout with the Nashville Predators at the time of his death, at 65, following a brief battle with cancer. A life-long Minnesotan, he died in Woodbury. . . . “I’ve been in this business a long time now,” said Jeff Kealty, the Predators’ assistant general manager and director of scouting, “and I’ve known Dave for over 20 years, and I can honestly say that there’s not a better person in this game than Dave Westby.”