DUNCAN – The B.C. Hockey League’s new regime is already making good on a promise to maintain a strong connection with its 17-member franchises and raise the profile of the league.
Former Vancouver Canucks John Grisdale and Orland Kurtenbach paid their first official public visit to the Valley this week since assuming their respective positions of commissioner and director of community relations.
Grisdale and Kurtenbach were guests of the Cowichan Valley Capitals during a corporate breakfast Thursday to launch the 2003- 04 season agenda.
They’ve formed a new dynamic front office for the BCHL along with former Powell River Kings’ executive Dale Sales, who has taken over as executive director.
Grisdale left a job as manager of the Canlan Ice Sports complex (Burnaby Eight Rinks) to assume the head role for the executive team. He knows the BCHL and its role well, particularly after son Chad served as captain of the Coquitlam Express in its expansion season.
“The BCHL is unquestionably the best development league in Canada,” Grisdale told the assembled gathering of Caps’ directors, sponsors and team personnel.
“The opportunity to get involved in the BCHL was very exciting. The potential for the league is fantastic. In the league office, we’re a team and we’re enthusiastic.”
Grisdale attended Michigan Tech before going on to a National Hockey League career and is well aware of the important connection between the BCHL and the U.S. college ranks.
He’s also more than cognizant of how little recognition the BCHL receives at higher levels for the development of players.
“The support for development doesn’t filter down to junior hockey,” Grisdale indicated.
He vows to do all he can to change that while working closely with the Canadian Hockey Association’s Bob Nicholson. The BCHL feeder teams currently don’t receive a dime for players who move on and are eventually drafted into the NHL.
The list is becoming longer every year, with 850 players receiving scholarships in the 41-year history of the league. Many of those have gone on to play pro and a bunch more advanced to the Western Hockey League before making that step.
The Caps alone have sent 74 players to the college ranks or to pro careers in 10 years.
“We’ve certainly heard great things about the returning Cowichan players and the commitment they have toward winning,” noted Grisdale.
Kurtenbach’s affiliation with the BCHL goes way back to the mid-1980s when he coached the former Richmond Sockeyes’ franchise. He’s been somewhat of a goodwill ambassador for the league ever since.
Kurtenbach has gone from the penthouse to the outhouse, having coached the Sockeyes to a Centennial Cup (national) championship one time and then taking over a Chilliwack team that once lost a game 22-3 to Penticton.
“That’s the wonderful world of sports,” he sighed.
Kurtenbach is principally involved in the marketing of the league.
“There’s certainly a difference between sales and marketing,”’ he pointed out.
“The better job we do marketing the league as a whole, we’ll raise the profile. My mandate is to work with the teams across the league and visit as much as possible.”
Both Grisdale and Kurtenbach touched upon the touchy subject of officiating. They’ve been made aware of the problems and intend to work on solutions, but conceded the improvements won’t happen overnight.
The Caps are ecstatic about the new personnel. Under the direction of president Dr. Ron Smith and general manager Clayton Wright, the team has been a strong proponent of change within the league.
Caps’ head coach Scott Robinson displayed his sense of humour in the early days of his new posting.
“By the sounds of the applause, we must still be undefeated,” he quipped.
Robinson intends to make the most of the veteran player corps he’s inherited.
“We’ll make our team better by making each individual better,” he said. “The team always comes first.
“When the team’s goals are met, the players’ goals usually follow closely behind.”
The Caps open training camp Friday and Robinson has lofty goals for the team.
“I’d like to extend an invitation to John Grisdale to a parade we’re planning late next
