Curtis Toneff has left the Nanaimo Clippers after an incident with an opposing player following a weekend game against Chilliwack. (Damon James/Island Images Photography)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

coaching change

Clippers interim head coach resigns after ‘non-physical incident with an opposing player’

Nov 3, 2023 | 7:13 AM

NANAIMO — For the third time in quick succession, the Nanaimo Clippers are looking for a new head coach.

The BCHL team announced late Thursday, Nov. 2 interim head coach Curtis Toneff had resigned following a “non-physical incident with an opposing player after the team’s game last weekend against Chilliwack.”

A statement from the team said Toneff’s actions “violated the BCHL Coaches and Nanaimo Clippers’ codes of conduct.”

Specific details regarding Toneff’s actions were not released.

“Unfortunately, Curtis made a mistake which he sincerely regrets,” Brad Kwong, managing partner of the Clippers ownership group said. “We are confident he will learn from the experience. We believe he is a good person with a bright future in coaching. We wish him well in his future endeavours.”

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Toneff was at the helm of the team on an interim basis, as the Clippers await a Hockey Canada ruling on the status of head coach Colin Birkas.

Birkas was suspended by Hockey Canada in March 2023 due to “a third-party investigation into complaints filed under Hockey Canada’s discipline and complaints policy.”

No details about allegations linked to Birkas have been made public by the Clippers, BCHL or Hockey Canada and Birkas has denied any wrongdoing.

Bob Beatty, who was flown into Nanaimo late Tuesday night from his home in Saskatchewan, was behind the bench during the team’s game on Wednesday, Nov. 1 and will take the reigns on a temporary basis until a permanent replacement can be hired.

Toneff becomes the third Nanaimo Clippers coach in the last two years to leave suddenly mid-season due to disciplinary measures.

In addition to Birkas’ current situation, in February 2022 then coach and GM Darren Naylor, along with then-assistant Birkas were placed on administrative leave pending a BCHL investigation into alleged breaches of the league’s code of conduct.

Birkas was re-instated nearly a month later, however Naylor remained on leave through the spring and never coached the Clippers again.

Results of the investigation were never made public.

Naylor is currently coaching in Rock Springs, Wyoming on a team owned by former Clippers owner Wes Mussio.

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