BCHL Award recognition

Story by Steve Erickson

The AGM of the BCHL saw the Board of Governors unanimously vote in favour of finally updating names of several year-end awards, plus adding a pair of new trophies. 

They have added a year-end honour for the MVP of the postseason, which will now be called the Jeff Tambellini Trophy, named after the former Chilliwack Chiefs star player.

Jeff played 12-year pro and recent GM/Head Coach of the Trail Smoke Eaters and is the son of former NHLer Steve Tambellini.

The award winner will be voted on by the league’s Competition Committee and recognized during the Fred Page Cup trophy presentation following the championship game of the league finals.

Tambellini mentioned “It’s a big honour and I’m very humbled. There have been so many outstanding players and champions over numerous years in the BCHL, so to be named on that trophy is special to me.

Having the ability to play in the playoffs and have a chance to win [the Fred Page Cup] with the Chilliwack Chiefs was a big honour. It’s something I don’t take for granted.”

He was instrumental for the Chiefs 2002 championship team, posting nearly two points per game with 36 in 19 contests on 17 goals and 19 assists when the Chiefs defeated the Vipers in six games for the league championship title. 

He was named as the Coastal Conference MVP award as well as the co-winner of the Brett Hull Trophy for BCHL leading scorer with 117 points in 54 games.

Following his playing BCHL career, he played three years at the U of Michigan notching 129 points in 124 games.

After he finished his freshman year, he was drafted by the Kings (27th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft playing six seasons with the Kings, the Islanders as well as the Canucks.

He finished his playing career suiting up six years in Europe which was split between Switzerland and Sweden, with one year returning to play AHL.

He returned in 2018-19 as the GM/Head Coach of the Smoke Eaters for two years then moved on to NCAA recruiting with the Lightning who won two Stanley Cups.

BCHL’s Broadcaster of the Year

While recognition is passed out for various awards they would not be mentioned if it were not for the various broadcasters of the teams.

Not everyone can “call the game” and it doesn’t come easy to various individuals who work at the skill, but quite often don’t give the team, the player and/or the league the recognition they deserve.

One of the best who has called the game is a true professional in every aspect of the game and hails from Fort St. John which is 1,218.6 Km’s north.

In a unanimously vote by the Board of Governors they have changed the BCHL Broadcaster of the Year award, which will be known as the Jim Hughson Award. 

Jim began his career calling games for the Penticton Vees and the Kelowna Buckaroos of the BCJHL in the 1970s, which dates his long career to success and professionalism.

He mentioned “This is incredibly flattering, humbling and, I hope for some young broadcasters, it’s inspiring.  ”He continued “I hope that, in time, for those broadcasters, I can be an inspiration to them. The BCHL was my training ground. It’s where I learned to broadcast a game. 

He continued “It’s where I learned to love the game even more than I had as a kid and as a player. It’s just a fantastic experience. It’s a very humbling honour.”

For those who might remember he was the voice of the Canucks radio broadcast’s from 1990 to 1998, then moved on television from 1999 to 2007. 

He eventually became the national broadcaster for Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC) from 2005 to 2021, which 11 years were as their lead Play by Play.

He called 12 Cup Finals, plus the 2006 and 2014 Winter Olympics on the men’s side of the hockey tournament and eventually retired in 2021 after a 42-year exceptional broadcasting career.

He was recognized in 2019 by the Hockey Hall of Fame who awarded him the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.

Since retiring he is now the Chairman of the Board for the BC Hockey Hall of Fame in Penticton and is missed calling games.

Congratulations to both Jeff and Jim on the recognition by the BCHL. CLASS MOVE!!!

Story by Rocky Rhodes

Both Female and Male Athlete’s in various sports are subject to added pressure put on them by the press as well as the opposite sex for various reasons.

If we focus on hockey players, mainly professional players for whatever reason they seem to attract what some in the hockey world are referred to as, Puck Bunnies which is not a new term and has been around for years.

I for one refuse to take sides and know that there are two sides to all stories and knowing this we should all wait for the outcome rather than convict the individual on hear-say alone.

Having stated that all professional athlete’s regardless of their sport must hold themselves to a higher standard than the regular “beer league” athlete and not get caught up in activities which could reflect on their career.

Rather than judge first, let’s look back at his career which all began with the Abbotsford Bantam Hawks in 2010-11 where he scored 68 goals and 117 points in 59 games and finished his career with Yale Academy.

If you backpedal to his career which began in 2011-12 playing for the WHL Calgary Hitmen for  four seasons then moving to play in the AHL for the Utica Comets for 10 playoff games.

The following season in 2015-16 he played 55 games for the Canucks managing a record of 7 goals, 6 assists along with 45 PIM’s and from there it was a rollercoaster ride.

Over the past while former Canuck forward Jake Virtanen (25) has been involved in a court case involving a young lady known as MS who made allegations against Virtanen that she had a sexual encounter at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver on Sept. 26, 2017, which went too far.

When this first made news in the area there were many who jumped on the “bandwagon” convicting Virtanen all due to the court of public opinion, but before you judge anyone, listen and hear from both parties involved.

At the time his career wasn’t as productive as he or the Vancouver Canucks would have liked it to be, but everyone goes through a slump with his on-ice performance and productivity.

During the trial, MS, now 23 stated that she fended off his (Virtanen’s) physical advances and told him multiple times she didn’t want to have sex” continuing to mention “He used his body weight to pin her on the bed before having non-consensual sex.

The court heard that he (Virtanen) and MS met at the Calgary Stampede in July 2017 and exchanged numbers and kept in touch via text.

At the time she was 18 when she drove to Vancouver in September to visit family and friends, and also do a photoshoot. 

She and Virtanen, (then 21) made plans to meet and he  arranged and picked her up from her friend’s house where they went to his hotel room.

Virtanen mentioned “they mutually began kissing and touching each other while lying in bed and helped each other take their clothes off before having sex.”

It wasn’t until April 2021, that she posted her story to an Instagram for survivors of sexual assault and then spoke to a reporter from Glacier Media for a story in the paper.

She named him (Virtanen) as the man who allegedly sexually assaulted her, and launched a civil lawsuit against him.

At the time he (Virtanen) was playing for the Canucks when allegations surfaced in May 2021 that saw the Canucks  place him on leave and eventually buy out his contract the following month.

Brock Martland (Defence Lawyer) told the jury the woman’s testimony was “riddled” with inconsistencies, some minor and some “fundamental,” saying she was not a trustworthy witness.

Alan Ip (Crown Counsel) told the jury the woman had a “firm” memory of the critical details of the alleged assault and was “unshaken on major and important points in her testimony.”

Following five days of testimony the 12-person jury began deliberating Monday afternoon and delivered their verdict Tuesday morning.

Throughout the trial he maintained his innocence and following the verdict he clutched his head in his hands and was comforted by his Defence Lawyers. 

It’s reported that some friends and family who were seated in the front row of the courtroom, whispered “yes!”

In the 2021-22 season he played for the Moscow Spartak in the KHL with many wondering if he will return or simply retire?

A 12-person jury has found former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen not guilty of sexual assault.

Story and photos by D. Laird Allan

About three days ago my dear friend Barb Wood, who lives down under in Perth, Australia texted me, that her best friends' son was playing for the U20 Australian Men's Hockey team .  The team stopped off in Canada on its' journey to Mexico for the IIHF Div. III World Hockey Championships.  They stopped in Langley to get some training and exhibition games. Tonight they went up against a local team, the West Coast Warriors.  Most of these young men play Jr. hockey in Canada or around the globe.

It was a very fast paced game with both teams having some great scoring chances.  The Warriors scored in the first on the PP to go into the room up 1-0.  The Warriors scored once in the second while Australia answered with two.  The Warriors scored early in the third to pull ahead.  Australia pulled their goalie in the last minute and potted the tying goal at 19:40.  It was a well deserved tie and a great ending for both teams.

An interesting fact was that the Australian coach, Dave Ruck and the Warriors' coach Darin Vetterl were both born in Surrey and came up through the North Surrey Minor Hockey Association and onto Jr. Hockey together.  They both travelled to Austrailia and played together in the Australian League with the Canberra Knights.  Mr. Vetterl came home to Canada, while Mr. Ruck went on the play for the Perth Thunder and then become their coach.  He then moved on to coach the U20 Mens' Team.

Now we get into the Kevin Bacon six degrees of seperation.  Both coaches played together in the PCJHL in the late eighties.  I then realized that I had refereed the two of them in that league and probably in Surrey MH as well - go figure.  

Team Australia now travels south to participate in the IIHF Mens' U20 Div. III World Championship in Queretaro, Mexico from July 22nd to the 30th. More common with this team.  I refereed a tournament in Mexico City in 1985 and then one in each of 1986,87 and 88 in Guadalajara.  Sportswave's Steve Erickson officiated with me for the three in Guadalajara.  Small world.

Teams in IIHF Div. III.

Mexico  
Australia
Chinese Taipei
Israel
Kyrgyzstan
South Africa
Turkey
Bosnia and Herzegovina 

It is great to see so many playing our game across the globe. No matter where you are playing this awesome sport in the world, keep your head up and stick on the ice.

#icehockeyaus 

www.iha.org.au

Story by Steve Erickson

Speculation continues on the air-waves in the area about who the Canucks should move out or what transactions they should make to add depth to the roster.

With the 2022 NHL Draft underway in Montreal everyone is still wondering if JT Miller will still be at training camp come September, but that’s still up in the air.

Looking through the draft we are knowing that they have selected six players including right wing Jonathan Lekkerimäki 15th overall (round one). 

Along with defenceman Elias Pettersson 80th (round three), centre Daimon Gardner 112th (round four), goaltender Ty Young 144th (fifth round), defenceman Jackson Dorrington 176th (sixth round), and defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev 208th (seventh round).

It’s obvious that they are building their core with young upstarts as they move forward with the new staff running the club, which is a nice treat for the fans to see.

Lekkerimäki (17) (5’10”, 171 lbs forward) split the 2021.22 season between the SHL and J20 Nationell leagues with Djurgårdens IF. 

He recorded 35 points (20-15-35) in 26 games with the J20 club and nine points (7-2-9) across 26 regular season games with the SHL team. 

He calls Tullinge, Sweden home and has represented Sweden various times managing a recent Gold v at the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship. 

It’s no wonder why the Canucks selected him as he led the tournament in scoring with 15 points (5-10-15) in six games.

Pettersson (18) (6’2″, 185 lb) played last season with Örebro HK at various levels, including the SHL playing 17 games (0-1-1), J20 Nationell (10-8-18 in 37 games), and J18 Nationell/Region (4-10-14 in 10 games). 

He played in six playoff games with the J20 club, leading the entire team with 10 points (2-8-10) and registering a team-high +12 plus/minus rating. 

He calls Västerås, Sweden home and won Gold alongside Lekkerimäki at this year’s U18 World Championship playing in all six games.

Gardner (18) 96’4″, 200 lbs) played in 30 games for the Warroad Warriors in the Minnesota State High School League.

He led the team in goals (45) and points (83), and ranked tied for fourth in overall league scoring (45-38-83). 

He spent parts of the last two seasons (USHL) with Omaha and Tri-City, getting 8 points (4-4-8) and 50 penalty minutes in 39 games.

Home is Eagle Lake, Ontario and is (apparently) staying in the USHL next season being committed to Clarkson University for 2023.24.

Young (17) ( 6’2″, 181 lbs) played in 23 games for Prince George (WHL) in 2021.22 recording 6-9-3 going with a 3.50 GAA and a SV%  of.899 

He played in 17 games with the Calgary Canucks (AJHL) calling Coaldale, Alberta home while tied for second league-wide with a .918 SV%  registering a GAA of 3.38.

Dorrington (18) (6’2″, 192 lb) played 41 games with Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL in 2021.22 notching 11 points (3-8-11) and 51 penalty minutes. 

The season prior, the blueliner led all Boston Jr. Bruins defencemen in scoring with 20 points (2-18-20) in 33 regular season games, before adding three points (0-3-3) in six playoff games. 

Home is North Reading, Massachusetts, Dorrington represented the US at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, picking up an assist in four games.

Kudryavtsev (18) (6’0″, 200 lb) played last season with Soo Greyhounds in his first OHL season, putting up 39 points (5-34-39), 10 PIM’s along with a +13 plus/minus rating in 68 games played. 

6’0″, 200-pound

He played for Loko Yaroslavl in the Russia Junior Hockey League in the 2020.21 season collecting seven points (2-5-7) in 20 games. 

Home is Yaroslavl, Russia and he also competed on the international stage at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (1-0-1 in 5 games) where he won Gold.

Hopefully one day we’ll see them playing at Rogers Arena for the “Big Club”

Story by Steve Erickson

Many are still showing that they are male chauvinists when it comes to seeing Women get promoted in what was a Man’s World.

We have seen this happen in the past and no one will question that they deserve to step up if they have the qualifications at the level they are promoted at.

Some still question that logic, while some wonder why it’s a one way street when it comes to letting Women officiate men’s sports, while Women’s sports are focused on having Women officiate their games?

I hear the above statement on a continual basis with many thinking pro sports teams are only looking for “staying in the good books” of the public while we are so focused on being politically correct.

There are several qualified Women to fill open spots in a Man’s sporting world and it sort of relates to the olden days in England.

This was the case in “jolly old England” known as social clubs which was a type originally set up by men from Britain’s upper classes in the 18th and succeeding centuries.

Times have changed and like it or not; so must all of society not just with this but also the name changes of various sporting teams and/or clubs.

Locally the Vancouver Canucks took major steps this past season by hiring Émilie Castonguay and Cammi Granato as Assistant General Managers.

Some think this was due to pressure from the public and whether it was or not it’s nice to see the Canucks taking major steps forward in this area.

Other teams are stepping up in this area and one other is the Toronto  Maple Leafs who have hired Hayley Wickenheiser also as an Assistant General Manager.

There is no doubt that all three of the above are qualified and we welcome them into what has previously been a “man’s world” in sport..

One other question some are asking is how many are qualified but are not and will not get a chance to fill a role in pro sports, which no doubt there are many who will not get the chance.

Wrong place, wrong time with no chance of advancement to the pro level, but they will succeed at the minor level of the game just fine without using their name to advance.

I am now hearing that the AHL Coachella Valley Firebirds have hired their first female assistant coach, which Jessica Campbell is excited and ready for the opportunity she’s been given.  Campbell mentioned “I’ve been spending a little bit more of my time on the development side the past three years and truly trying to create the opportunities and the growth for myself, and the knowledge to put myself in this position and I’m very excited to be able to bring that to Coachella.”

She spent the past year working with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL development program and was an assistant coach with Germany at the IIHF men’s world championships, being the first woman to coach at that event.

Coachella Valley begins its first season this fall as the AHL affiliate for the Seattle Kraken.

Coachella Valley Head Coach Dan Bylsma, led Pittsburgh Penguins to 2009 Stanley Cup championship.

He won the Jack Adams Coach of the Year award in 2011, a first in Penguins franchise history, finishing with a 49-25-8, despite having 350 man-games lost due to injury.

He mentioned “All signs and all indications of what we were looking for in a coach kind of led me to Jess and led to our conversations, and has led us to her being our first assistant coach,” 

Bylsma was impressed with her as a skating coach and reached out to her in an email sent to a generic email address for her skating school.

Her first thought, “Is this spam?”

“It was special because I was obviously in a position where I was looking for that next step,” Campbell said.

She is a Canadian and comes from Rocanville, Sask. and was an Assistant Coach/Skills Coach for the Nurnberg Ice Tigers in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga and also was a player at the U-18 World Championships in 2009 and 2010.

She was the leading scorer (15 points) and MVP at the 2010 tournament as Canada’s captain managing to score the O/T winner in Canada’s 5-4 win over the US Gold-Medal game.

She played five games with Canada’s Silver-medal team at the 2015 Women’s World Championship in Sweden.

She played three seasons (2014-17) for the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL leading the team to the  2016 Clarkson Cup championship. 

She scored twice in an 8-3 victory over Les Canadiennes de Montreal in the championship game.

Kraken GM Ron Francis mentioned “We think that (Campbell) brings a lot of good attributes to the position and we think that she can work with our young players and make them better, and we wouldn’t have hired her if we didn’t think she was capable of doing that,” 

Francis continued “So we’re excited that she’s the first, but that’s not why we hired her. We hired her because she’s capable of doing the job and making us better.”

Previously Seattle had hired Hall of Famer Cammi Granato as one of its first pro scouts even prior to the team taking hitting the ice.

Story by Steve Erickson

Canada continues to grow as a country and a Nation, Canada is the envy of the world for what we have to offer.  Canada as a Nation was officially recognized July 1st, 1867 by the British North America Act, which today is known as the Constitution.  It wasn’t until June 20th, 1868 that the Governor General signed a proclamation that asked or requested all Canadians to celebrate July 1st, which was official in 1879.  While Canada has a rich history we should be thankful for our freedom that we often take for granted that we are able to do what we want; when we want within the law.  As the world continues to change today’s youth are learning about different cultures of Canada as the world changes.  To the youth we can only offer words of encouragement, such as listen to your parents, don’t get mixed up with the wrong crowd and be thankful to those who have helped you reach this milestone.  Friends don’t and won’t steer you wrong and only want what’s best for you and while you might not believe your parents for their advice, remember that they might have been given the same words from their parents.  The sports world has changed in various areas and not everyone will make it to the pro level of any sport and truthfully speaking you coaches only want what’s best for you.  Every sport has parents that focus on wanting their son or daughter become a professional, but not everyone makes it.  To the parents – don’t live your dreams through the eyes of your child and let them play at a level of the game they are comfortable at playing.  Sportswave covers a variety of sports and we will continue to cover sports from Amateur to Professional to keep you informed in the happenings of various events.  We have seen various changes in all sports over the years and no doubt we will continue to see changes for the betterment of the game.   Volunteer For those in charge or on the executive of any league remember that changes you are looking to make are for the betterment of the game and not for you alone.  Let the youngsters play and be themselves, have fun and learn to grow into coaches who can follow the footsteps you put in place.  DON’T BE A PUSHY PARENT – today’s youth grow up too fast and will leave you wondering what happened and why?  Sign up and become a volunteer in any sport for the betterment of the game and show the youth of today what good sports are actually like!!  

Sportswave wishes you and your Family a very Happy Canada Day!!

Story by Steve Erickson

The world around sports revolves around rumors from fans who quite often like to start rumors and when it happens, they simply say “see I told you.”  Some are interesting  to hear on sports talk radio but you have to remember the ones who call in to the station often like to hear their voice on the radio.  At times even radio, print and/or tv personalities speculate what might happen with the most recent rumor focusing on the Canucks twenty-five year old Brock Boeser.  Some had him heading east to Minny or Jersey, but that simply wasn’t the case with the Canucks squelching speculation of a move for the twenty-five year old forward.  Earlier on Canada Day the Canucks announced that they have signed him to a three-year contract extension for $6.65 million per season.   In 71 games this past season he managed 23-23-46 in 71 games played surpassing his previous 20-goal mark for the fourth time in five seasons.   To the doubters you should remember that he led the team lead with six game-winning goals this past season, ranking second with 11 PP goals setting a new career-highs in both categories.   Looking at his six seasons with the Canucks Boeser (6’, 208 lb)  he played in 324 regular season games and has managed 256 points (121-135-256) and 88 penalty minutes.   He has played in 17 career playoff games in 2019.20, ranking him fifth in team-scoring with 11 points (4-7-11) and has led or co-led the Canucks in scoring twice earning the Cyrus H. McLean Trophy (2017.18 & 2020.21).  He was named the recipient of the Cyclone Taylor Trophy (most valuable player) and Pavel Bure Award (most exciting player) in his rookie season in 2017.18.    Happy Canada Day  Also in the same year he was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the League’s best rookie becoming the first rookie since Mario Lemieux (1984.85) named MVP of the All-Star Game.   Allvin mentioned “We’re very happy to have worked out a new deal for Brock.”  He continued “He is a very talented player and has been an effective goal scorer throughout his entire career. We look forward to seeing his game progress in the years to come. Now that his contract is in place for three seasons, Brock can shift his entire focus to his on-ice performance.”  Nice to have Brock re-sign with the Canucks, now the  question remains as to what will happen to Miller??  Boeser was set to become a restricted free agent this summer and speculation was rampant in the media market, and now any and all can be put on the shelf  At least for the next three years!!