Canada's 2002 Men's Olympic Hockey Team Names Support Staff

NR.007.01
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February 8, 2001
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VANCOUVER, BC - The Canadian Hockey Association announced Thursday the support staff for Canada's Men's Olympic Hockey team for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Steve Tambellini, Vice President, Player Personnel for the Vancouver Canucks, was named as Director, Player Personnel for Canada's 2002 Men's Olympic Hockey Team by Executive Director, Wayne Gretzky and CHA President, Bob Nicholson.

Tambellini will assist Gretzky, Assistant Executive Director Kevin Lowe, Head Coach Pat Quinn and the coaching staff in the evaluation and scouting of players that will represent Canada in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Tambellini currently oversees the Vancouver Canucks pro scouting and player development.

Tambellini is in his tenth year with the Canucks front office staff, after playing ten seasons in the NHL. Winning a Stanley Cup in 1980 with the New York Islanders, Tambellini represented Canada as a player in International competition on two occasions: 1981 at the World Hockey Championship, and 1988 at the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, AB.

"We are very pleased to name Steve to our staff to assist in the preparation and evaluation of players for the 2002 Olympic Team," said Wayne Gretzky. "We are also excited to name our equipment and training staff for the Men's Olympic team, as their experience and expertise will be an asset to our team both on and off of the ice."

Other support staff named by Gretzky and Nicholson to Canada's 2002 Men's Olympic team includes:

S Dr. Jim Thorne Team Doctor (Canada's National Team)
S Mike Pelino Video Coordinator (Canada's National Team)
S Barrie Stafford Equipment Manager (Edmonton Oilers)
S Pierre Gervais Equipment Manager (Montreal Canadiens)
S Ken Lowe Athletic Trainer (Edmonton Oilers)
S Jim Ramsay Athletic Trainer (New York Rangers)

Dr. Jim Thorne has beeninvolved with international hockey and sports for the past 15 years. Thorne has been Team Doctor for Team Canada for three Men's World Championships, three Spengler Cups, two Izvestia Cups, three Sweden Games and numerous other international hockey competitions. Thorne has been part of the medical staff for the Calgary Stampeders (CFL) since 1997, the Calgary Hitmen since 1995, and the Calgary Cannons (PCL-AAA) since 1991. He has also been involved with the Canadian National Freestyle Skiing team, Canadian National Badminton Team and the FIS Canadian Speed Skiing Championships.

Mike Pelino joined Canada's National Men's Team as an assistant coach in August 1999 after two seasons with the Spokane Chiefs (WHL) as an assistant coach. Has coaching experience at all levels of play: including Head Coach of Brock University (St. Catharines, ON) from 19.

Pelino's International experience includes head coach of Canada's National Under 18 team that won a gold medal in 1996, assistant coach of Canada's 1997 World Junior Championship team that won a gold medal in Geneva, Switzerland, and was the video coordinator for Team Canada at the 1991 Canada Cup.

Stafford is in his 19th season as Head Equipment Manager with the Edmonton Oilers. He has previous experience with Team Canada at the 1994 World Championship in Milan, Italy, three Canada Cups (1984, 19), and the World Cup of Hockey in 1996. He has won 5 Stanley Cup Championships with the Edmonton Oilers.

Lowe, who has 24 years of athletic training experience in professional football, collegiate ranks and professional and international hockey, joins Team Canada once again as Athletic Trainer. He has previously represented Canada at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and the 1994 World Hockey Championship. Lowe, who won a Stanley Cup in 1990 with Edmonton, received an honors of science degree in bio-physical education from Concordia University in 1978 and a master's degree in athletic training and conditioning from the University of Alberta in 1988.

Gervais joined the Montreal Canadiens in 1987, and is currently in his 14th season in the National Hockey League. He was selected for equipment manager duties at the 1993 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal, and assisted the training staff at the 1987 Canada Cup. The Trois-Rivieres, QC native got his start in professional hockey as an assistant equipment manager in 1978-79 with the QMJHL's Trois-Rivieres Draveurs.

Ramsey joined the New York Rangers in 1994 after serving as head athletic trainer for the NHL's Winnipeg Jets for five seasons. The Winnipeg native received a bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Manitoba in 1986, and served as athletic trainer for the Western Conference at the 1994 NHL All-Star Game in New York. This will be Ramsey's first International experience with Team Canada.

In naming the player roster for Canada's Men's Olympic Hockey team for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the CHA must name a minimum of 8 players, to a maximum of 12 players, on or before Sunday, (two weeks remaining in the NHL regular season).

The remaining roster, to a maximum of 22 players, must be named on or before December 22, 2001.

The 2002 Winter Olympic Games will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA from February 8-24, 2002

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

[email protected] 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

[email protected]

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

[email protected]

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