Chief’s Bench Boss Leaving

After 21 seasons at the helm of hockey operations for the BCHL Chilliwack Chiefs – as head coach and general manager – Harvey Smyl has decided to make a change.

Smyl informed Chiefs’ President Glen Ringdal Tuesday that he will not renew his contract which expires at the end of May, but instead will pursue new directions and  interests.

“This is a very big and tough decision that has been made only after long consideration and full consultation with my family – wife Erin, daughters Hailey and Jamie and son Cam,” Smyl said.

“Our youngest child graduates high school in June so it is a good time for us to re-evaluate our future.” Ringdal said, ”

The entire Chiefs family – owners, staff, players,fans and alumni -greet this news with real sadness, as a very significant era in Chiefs’ history comes to an end.

At the same time, we fully understand that, after 21 years, Harvey must look after Harvey and his family.

And if that means making a significant change in his life – so be it.   He has devoted all his time and energy to this Club for a very long time and is very highly respected in all hockey circles in BC, Canada and beyond.

We will miss him dearly. “Harvey leaves the team – now entering its 25^th year in the BCHL – with an enviable record.

In leading his teams to the playoffs in 20 of his 21 seasons in the BCHL, Harvey has been named the BCHL Coach of the Year four times. He coached the Chiefs to three BCHL Championships, 1994-95, 1999-00, and 2001-02.

Twice those teams advanced to the Royal Bank Cup which included a Bronze Medal in 2000.  He took the helm while the team was still playing in “the old barn” on Corbould Street, brought it into the new Prospera Centre in 2004, followed it to Langley for five years from 2006-2011, and brought it back to Chilliwack in 2011-12.

Ringdal said the Club will immediately begin a search for a new Head Coach and General Manager.