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BCHL Today: Chiefs alum Tambellini wins Stanley Cup, Rivermen add Levyy for 2021-22, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Chiefs alum Tambellini wins the Stanley Cup

Tampa Bay Lightning pro scout and college recruiter Jeff Tambellini (67 goals, 101 assists in 88 games with Chilliwack from 2000-02) won the Stanley Cup on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens in game five.

The 37-year-old from Port Moody, BC is into his first season with the Lightning. He also served as a senior advisor for the Trail Smoke Eaters this past season.

He was also general manager and head coach for the Smoke Eaters from 2018-20.

Rivermen recruit Levyy for the 2021-22 season

The Langley Rivermen announced the commitment of 2003-born forward Vitaly Levyy for the 2021-22 BC Hockey League season on Thursday.

The product of Old Brookville, NY had two goals and 10 points in 12 games with the North Jersey Avalanche 18U AAA in the Atlantic Youth Hockey League 18U this past season.

He was drafted by the Lincoln Stars in the 9th round, 122nd overall, of the 2019 US Hockey League Futures Draft.

Express bring Merritt back for 2021-22

The Coquitlam Express announced the signing of 2001-born forward Arlo Merritt for the upcoming BCHL season.

The native of Halifax, NS had his junior A rights acquired by the Express from Chilliwack last October. He had three assists in five games with Coquitlam during the exhibition season.

Merritt, who’s committed to Ohio State University for Sept. 2022, spent the 2020-21 season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL. He posted four points in 32 games with the Stampede.

Bulldogs look to hire a sales and marketing account executive

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are looking to hire a sales and marketing account executive. Details on the position and how to apply are available on the Bulldogs website here.

Donation page started for Wild broadcaster Ecker

Wenatchee Wild broadcaster Arch Ecker was involved in a car accident last month and remains in hospital.

The accident caused the perforation of a large part of Ecker’s intestines as well as sepsis, broken ribs, a broken collarbone, six broken vertebrae, a broken sternum, and a bruised lung.

A fundraiser is set up for Ecker’s benefit to “help with any uncovered medical expenses, personal expenses during rehabilitation, and any other unforeseen incurred costs”.

Playfair joins UBC as an assistant coach

Jackson Playfair (six goals, 12 assists in 53 games with Langley in 2011-12) is the new assistant coach for the University of British Columbia men’s hockey team.

The 27-year-old native of Abbotsford, BC played four seasons of U SPORTS hockey with Dalhousie University before retiring at the end of the 2018-19 season.

Playfair’s role at UBC is his first experience of note in a coaching role.

Genoway moves from Russia to Sweden

Defenseman Chay Genoway (17 goals, 32 assists in 56 games with Vernon in 2005-06) has signed with BrynÀs IF of the Swedish Hockey League for the 2021-22 season.

The 34-year-old Morden, MB product had three goals and 25 points in 58 games for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg in 2020-21, his sixth season in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Pimm traded from MHL to AJHL

2001-born defenseman Devin Pimm (no points in two games with Penticton in 2018-19) was traded from the Grand Falls Rapids of the Maritime Hockey League to the Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey on Thursday.

Pimm, who’s from Stanstead, QC, had four assists in 57 games with the Rapids split between the last two seasons.

Brian's been involved in the BCHL in a variety of capacities for 17 years. From 2002 to 2012, he served in several roles around the Merritt Centennials organization, including as team president, board member, beat writer, colour commentator, webmaster, media and communications coordinator and marketing assistant. He's been writing about the BCHL since 2008 and served as colour commentator on the TSN 1040 broadcasts in 2012-13. BCHLNetwork is one of Brian's many passion projects that he balances around his full-time job as an instructor in the Radio Arts and Entertainment Program at BCIT in Burnaby.