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Press ReleaseJanuary 19, 2004
The BC Hockey Hall of Fame welcomes five new inductees, including two
executive members of Canada’s 2002 Men’s Gold Medal Olympic team.
Penticton native
Bob Nicholson,
President of Hockey Canada, has witnessed a total of 26 medals being won
by Canadian Teams under his direction since he joined Hockey Canada in
1992. Included in that medal total, Canada’s Women and Men’s teams winning
Gold at the 2002 Olympics and a 2003 Gold at the Men’s World Hockey
Championships.
Nicholson played Junior Hockey in Penticton and NCAA hockey at
Providence College. He held the position of Technical Director with the BC
Amateur Hockey Association for 10 years before joining Hockey Canada.
Steve Tambellini
of Trail, Vice President of Hockey Development
with the NHL Vancouver Canucks, will also be inducted into the BC Hockey
Hall of Fame. Tambellini played 10 seasons in the NHL, winning a Stanley
Cup with the New York Islanders in 1980. He also played three seasons in
Vancouver. He played 553 NHL games recording 330 points. Steve shared in
Canada’s Olympic Gold Medal win in 2002 and 2003 Gold at the World Hockey
Championships as a member of the management teams.
Another native of Trail, forward
Ray Ferraro
enjoyed a NHL career spanning 18
seasons with 6 different teams. Ray enjoyed a productive 3 year junior
career with the BCHL Penticton Knights and Portland and Brandon of the WHL.
He scored 108 goals in his final Junior season with the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Ferraro was drafted in the 5th round by Hartford in 1982 and played 6 1/2
seasons with the Whalers. Ray also played with New York Islanders, New
York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers and St Louis. Ferraro
played 1258 NHL Games scoring 408 goals and 490 assists.
Two defencemen, Barry Beck and Harold Snepsts round out the impressive
list of 2004 Inductees.
Barry Beck , born in Vancouver,
played one season in the BC Junior League with Langley and later with the
WHL New Westminster Bruins. He played in three straight Memorial Cups
including the 1977-championship team. Beck played 615 NHL games with
Colorado, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings, recording 355 points
with 1,016 minutes in penalties. In his first NHL season he set records
for goals (22) and points (60) by a rookie defenceman. Injuries forced him
to end his career at the age of 29. He was an All Star 5 times and played
for Canada in the 1979 Challenge Cup and the 1981 Canada Cup.
One of the most popular Vancouver Canucks ever, defenceman
Harold Snepsts,
also joins the elite group being inducted. A standout junior with Edmonton
of the WHL, he was drafted by the Canucks in the fourth round in 1974. He
joined Vancouver during the 1974-75 season and would remain with the team
for the next 10 seasons. Snepsts also played with Minnesota, Detroit and
St Louis. Prior to joining the Blues, he played 2 more seasons in
Vancouver. He was named the Canucks top defenceman four times and was
named to 2 NHL All Star Games.
Voting was conducted by a selection committee, comprised of
representatives from the media, amateur and professional hockey.
Official BC Hockey Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies will take place in
Penticton on Friday July 23rd at the Lakeside Resort and Casino. Proceeds
will go to the Canucks for Kids Fund and the BC Hockey Hall of Fame.
Further information:
Bernie Pascall
Chairman-Selection Committee
604-942-4345, bpascall@telus.net
Scott Carter
Executive Director-BCHHF
250-490-0711, scott.sca@img.net |
