Steve Tambellini

Playing career

Tambellini played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Broncos of the WCHL from 1975–76 to 1977–78, recording 155 goals and 181 assists in 193 games. He was named WCHL Rookie of the Year for the 1975–76 season. Selected 15th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft, he spent two seasons with the club and won the Stanley Cup in 1980. At the trade deadline the following season, he and Chico Resch were dealt to the Colorado Rockies for Mike McEwen.

He remained with the franchise through its relocation to New Jersey, scoring the Devils' first hat trick on December 3, 1982, in a 5–4 win over Hartford. After the 1982–83 season, he was traded to the Calgary Flames, where he played two seasons before signing as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks, ending his NHL career there. He also played briefly in the Swiss Hockey League and the Austrian Hockey League. Internationally, he represented Canada at the 1978 World Junior Hockey Championship (bronze medal, two goals, two assists), the World Hockey Championship, and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary (one goal, three assists).

After retirement

Following his playing career, Tambellini joined the Canucks as director of public and media relations, remaining with the franchise until July 2008. He was promoted to senior vice-president of hockey operations in 1997, then became vice-president of player personnel in 1998, overseeing player development and scouting. He was later named assistant general manager to Dave Nonis and then to Mike Gillis after Nonis was fired on April 14, 2008. He served as director of player personnel for Canada's gold medal-winning Olympic team at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and held the same role for the 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and 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 Kevin Lowe was promoted to president of hockey operations. He was fired on April 13, 2013, replaced by Craig MacTavish. The Anaheim Ducks hired him as a part-time scout on November 21, 2013.

Personal life

His father, Addie Tambellini, was a member of the Trail Smoke Eaters that won the 1961 World Ice Hockey Championships. His oldest son, Jeff Tambellini, was drafted 27th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2003 and later became head coach and general manager of the Trail Smoke Eaters in 2018. His youngest son, Adam Tambellini, was drafted 65th overall by the New York Rangers in 2013 and plays for HC Davos of the Swiss National League.