Steve Tambellini
Encyclopedia
Steven Anthony Tambellini (born May 14, 1958) is a former NHL
player and is currently the general manager
for the Edmonton Oilers
hockey franchise in Edmonton
, Alberta
.
of the WHL
from the 1975–76 season until the 1977–78 season, where he scored 155 goals and notched 181 assists in 193 games. He would earn the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
as the top rookie in the league for his effort in the 1975–76 season.
In the 1978 NHL Entry Draft, Tambellini was chosen 15th overall by the New York Islanders
. He would spend two years with New York, winning a Stanley Cup
with them in the 1980 season. He was dealt at the trade deadline the next season along with Chico Resch
to the Colorado Rockies
in exchange for Mike McEwen. He stayed with Colorado for two seasons, including their first season as the New Jersey Devils
as the franchise was relocated in 1982. After the 1982–83 season, Steve was traded to the Calgary Flames. He would remain there for two seasons before signing on as a free agent
with the Vancouver Canucks
, where he would round out his NHL career.
He would go on to play a minor amount of time in both the Swiss Hockey League and the Austrian Hockey League.
in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where he scored 11 goals.
and to Mike Gillis
after Nonis was fired by the Canucks on April 14, 2008.
In 2002, he was the Director of Player Personnel for the gold medal
winning Canadian Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team at the 2002 Winter Olympics
. He would be rewarded again, being named the Director of Player Personnel for both the 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
as well as the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
.
In 2004, he was inducted into the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame.
On July 31, 2008 he was named General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers
after the Oilers promoted Kevin Lowe
to President of Hockey Operations.
, helped the Trail Smoke Eaters
win the 1961 World Ice Hockey Championships
, the last Canadian amateur team to do so. His oldest son, Jeff Tambellini
, was drafted 27th overall by the Los Angeles Kings
in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft
. Jeff is now with the ZSC Lions
in Switzerland, where Steve worked briefly.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player and is currently the general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
for the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
hockey franchise in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
Playing career
Steve Tambellini played his junior hockey for the Lethbridge BroncosLethbridge Broncos
The Lethbridge Broncos were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League from 1974 until 1986. They played at the Lethbridge Sportsplex.-Season-by-season record:...
of the WHL
Western Hockey League (minor pro)
The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League...
from the 1975–76 season until the 1977–78 season, where he scored 155 goals and notched 181 assists in 193 games. He would earn the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
The Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the top rookie in the Western Hockey League.The award is named after Jim Piggott who was the founder of the WHL's Saskatoon Blades, as well as one of the first presidents of the league.- Winners :...
as the top rookie in the league for his effort in the 1975–76 season.
In the 1978 NHL Entry Draft, Tambellini was chosen 15th overall by the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He would spend two years with New York, winning a Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
with them in the 1980 season. He was dealt at the trade deadline the next season along with Chico Resch
Chico Resch
Glenn Allan "Chico" Resch is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and television sportscaster. Resch played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1973 to 1986, winning one Stanley Cup with the New York Islanders in 1980...
to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies (NHL)
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
in exchange for Mike McEwen. He stayed with Colorado for two seasons, including their first season as the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
as the franchise was relocated in 1982. After the 1982–83 season, Steve was traded to the Calgary Flames. He would remain there for two seasons before signing on as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, where he would round out his NHL career.
He would go on to play a minor amount of time in both the Swiss Hockey League and the Austrian Hockey League.
International play
During his career, Steve Tambellini represented Canada on three separate occasions: In 1978 he played for Team Canada in the World Junior Hockey Championship, winning a bronze medal after scoring two goals and two assists. He played in the World Hockey Championship as well as the 1988 Winter Olympics1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where he scored 11 goals.
After retirement
After his retirement from hockey, he was hired by the Canucks as the Director of Public and Media Relations and remained with the franchise until July 2008. In 1997, he would be promoted to Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations. In 1998 his position would change again, this time to the Vice President of Player Personnel. In this position he would oversee player development and professional player scouting, until eventually being named Assistant General Manager to Dave NonisDave Nonis
David M. Nonis is a former Canadian ice hockey defenceman, former general manager and executive of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks and current general manager of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:Growing up in Burnaby, B.C., Nonis played junior...
and to Mike Gillis
Mike Gillis
Michael David Gillis is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.-Playing career:...
after Nonis was fired by the Canucks on April 14, 2008.
In 2002, he was the Director of Player Personnel for the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
winning Canadian Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team at the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
. He would be rewarded again, being named the Director of Player Personnel for both the 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
-Group B:All times local .-Relegation round:Results from any games played during the preliminary round were carried forward to the relegation round.All times local ....
as well as the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
2004 World Cup of Hockey
The 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues...
.
In 2004, he was inducted into the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame.
On July 31, 2008 he was named General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
after the Oilers promoted Kevin Lowe
Kevin Lowe
Kevin Hugh Lowe is a retired defenceman and coach in the National Hockey League and the current President of Hockey Operations for the Edmonton Oilers. As a defenceman, he played for the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Rangers....
to President of Hockey Operations.
Personal life
His father, Addie TambelliniAddie Tambellini
Adolph Tambellini is a retired Canadian amateur ice hockey player. He played junior hockey with the Lethbridge Native Sons, Calgary Stampeders, Trail Smoke Eaters and Seattle Totems. Internationally, Tambellini was a member of the gold-medal-winning Smoke Eaters team that won the 1961 World Ice...
, helped the Trail Smoke Eaters
Trail Smoke Eaters
The Trail Smoke Eaters are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Trail, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...
win the 1961 World Ice Hockey Championships
1961 World Ice Hockey Championships
The 1961 World Ice Hockey Championships was the 28th edition of the Ice Hockey World Championships. The tournament was held in Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland from March 1 to March 12, 1961. Canada, represented by the Trail Smoke Eaters, won their nineteenth international title...
, the last Canadian amateur team to do so. His oldest son, Jeff Tambellini
Jeff Tambellini
Jeff Tambellini is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger playing for the ZSC Lions of the National League A . Originally selected 27th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, he joined the NHL in 2005. During his rookie season, he was traded to the New York Islanders...
, was drafted 27th overall by the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft
2003 NHL Entry Draft
The 2003 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee on June 21, 2003.Marc-Andre Fleury was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, only the third goalie in NHL history selected as the first overall draft choice...
. Jeff is now with the ZSC Lions
ZSC Lions
The Zürcher Schlittschuh Club Lions are a professional ice hockey team located in Zürich, Switzerland, playing in the National League A. The home arena, the 10,700 seat Hallenstadion, is in the Zürich district of Oerlikon...
in Switzerland, where Steve worked briefly.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1975–76 | Lethbridge Broncos Lethbridge Broncos The Lethbridge Broncos were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League from 1974 until 1986. They played at the Lethbridge Sportsplex.-Season-by-season record:... |
WCHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
72 | 38 | 59 | 97 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1976–77 | Lethbridge Broncos | WCHL | 55 | 42 | 42 | 84 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | Lethbridge Broncos | WCHL | 66 | 75 | 80 | 155 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Fort Worth Texans Fort Worth Texans The Fort Worth Texans were a professional ice hockey team based in Fort Worth, Texas. They started play in 1967 as the Fort Worth Wings, a minor league affiliate for the Detroit Red Wings. They were part of the Central Hockey League and played their home games at Will Rogers Coliseum... |
CHL | 73 | 25 | 27 | 52 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1978–79 | New York Islanders New York Islanders The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | New York Islanders* | NHL | 45 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | New York Islanders* | NHL | 61 | 19 | 17 | 36 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Colorado Rockies Colorado Rockies (NHL) The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was... |
NHL | 13 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 79 | 29 | 30 | 59 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982–83 | New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 73 | 25 | 18 | 43 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... |
NHL | 73 | 15 | 10 | 25 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1984–85 1984–85 AHL season The 1984–85 AHL season was the 49th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Binghamton Whalers finished first overall in the regular season... |
Moncton Golden Flames Moncton Golden Flames The Moncton Golden Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick, playing home games at the Moncton Coliseum. The team operated in the American Hockey League between 1984 and 1987, as a minor league affiliate of the Calgary Flames and the Boston Bruins... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 47 | 19 | 10 | 29 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL | 48 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 72 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Canadian Nation Team Canadian national men's hockey team The Canadian national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Canada. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, and participates in international competitions. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior... |
Intl | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 41 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Villach VSV | Aust | 36 | 44 | 37 | 81 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 553 | 160 | 150 | 310 | 105 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
- *Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
champion