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BCHL Today: Clippers hire new director of business operations, former Langley Hornets star retires, and more

Brian Wiebe

 

Clippers add Hunter to their front office

https://twitter.com/ClippersHockey/status/1306731541259722753

The Nanaimo Clippers announced the hiring of Robb Hunter as their new director of business operations on Thursday. He takes over from Tali Campbell, who resigned earlier this month.

Hunter has a background in business operations and corporate partnerships. He has held management roles with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers and the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Bonnyville Pontiacs.

He also served as the Pontiacs play-by-play voice from 2006 to 2019.

Pope retires from pro hockey

Forward Matt Pope (55 goals, 78 assists in 177 games with Langley from 2001-04) announced his retirement from professional hockey on Thursday.

Pope, 36, spent the last three seasons with the Cardiff Devils of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the UK, where he scored 131 points in 152 games.

Craighead inks ECHL contract

Forward Darien Craighead (52 goals, 86 assists in 143 games with Langley, Cowichan Valley, and Chilliwack from 2013-16) signed his first pro contract on Thursday when he agreed to terms with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL for the 2020-21 season.

Craighead, 23, played NCAA hockey for Northern Michigan University over the last four seasons and put up 109 points in 153 games.

Hannoun joins Alps Hockey League squad

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFPfI4AINyz/

Forward Dante Hannoun (one game with Vernon in 2013-14) has signed a contract for the 2020-21 season with the WSV Sterzing – SSI Vipiteno Broncos of the Alps Hockey League.

The 22-year-old from Delta, BC had three assists in 17 games with HC Bolzano of the Austrian Hockey League in 2019-20. He also notched 19 points in 24 ECHL games with Atlanta.

Brian Wiebe

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.