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After two years with the hockey club including the last nine months as General Manager, Tali Campbell is moving on. (Gary Dorland)
CHANGE AT THE TOP

Clippers hunting for new GM ahead of delayed season

Sep 3, 2020 | 5:33 PM

NANAIMO — The search is on for the next General Manager of the Nanaimo Clippers.

Tali Campbell is stepping down to pursue other opportunities.

Team owner Wes Mussio credited Campbell for his role in raising the professionalism, community involvement and fan base of the team.

“He proved to be an instrumental part of bringing the franchise up to one of the best programs in the entire nation in Junior A hockey. Tali will be sadly missed and leaves a significant hole in the franchise management team heading into the 2020-2021 season.”

Campbell joined the Clippers in 2018 as the Director of Business Operations and became the GM part way through the 2019-20 season.

Under his watch Nanaimo finished first in the Island Division and completed a first round sweep of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs before the BCHL was shut down because of COVID-19.

The process of hiring a new General Manager is underway with Campbell agreeing to stay on until a replacement can be found.

Mussio said the new hire will likely focus on the business side of the Clippers operation.

“With Colin Birkas, Darren Naylor and myself running the hockey operation we’ve got a pretty good team there already.”

From Campbell’s perspective there were many successes on and off the ice in his time with the hockey club.

“In less than a year’s time, we went from averaging 900 fans to over 1,400 fans and two sold-out games. Our sponsor base grew by double and we continued to be a leader in the community.”

The Clippers will be on the ice for a 30 player main training camp beginning Sept. 8 with the BCHL’s regular season scheduled to begin Dec. 1.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77