Nanaimo welcomes Vandekamp into fold as head coach/GM

Press Release

The Nanaimo Clippers would like to announce that Mike Vandekamp has agreed to join the team as director of hockey operations which will include general manager and head coaching duties.

"Mike has won a championship trophy in three different leagues: the BCHL, AJHL and most recently the Allan Cup," noted new Clippers part-owner Kelly Hrudey of Vandekamp's track record.

Vandekamp most recently was head coach of the Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He began coaching as an assistant with the Merritt Centennials before becoming a head coach there. He later was bench boss with the Vernon Vipers and Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League.

"I am very excited to be joining the Nanaimo Clippers organization and returning to the BCHL," said Vandekamp. "I am looking forward to working with the Clippers ownership, staff, and players to ice a team that the whole city of Nanaimo will be proud of. My family and I are looking forward to calling Nanaimo home and we can't wait to get started".

Vandekamp will be joined by wife Lana and their two children in the harbour city.

The Clippers have offered former coach Bill Bestwick a position in the head office and would like to thank him for all the hard work he has done for the Clippers over the last 11 years.

"Billy is part of the fabric of the Clippers and we hope he decides to work with the team moving forward," said Nanaimo part-owner Ken Wagner.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)