Thompson Rivers solidifies D with addition of Tonello from Smoke Eaters

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The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack hockey team has solidified its defence for the upcoming BC Intercollegiate Hockey League season.

General Manager Chris Hans is pleased to announce the signing of Curtis Tonello of North Vancouver, B.C.. Tonello completed his Junior Hockey eligibility last season playing with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BC Hockey League.

“I chose TRU because it's in a nice city and I have heard great things about the school and the hockey program,” says the 6’1” Tonello, who played his minor hockey for the North Shore Winter Club and played Major Midget for the Vancouver Rangers/Canadians.

“Curtis has a reputation for being a gritty, hard working defenceman who prides himself on his defensive responsibilities,” Hans explains.

Tonello played 56 games for the Smoke Eaters in 2010-11 scoring a goal and adding 11 assists. He had 26 minutes in penalty time. Trail played seven playoff games last season with Tonello notching one assist and six penalty minutes.

“I can’t say enough good things about Curtis,” stated Trail Coach/GM Bill Birks. “ He is a great leader. He ran our gym program this past year. Curtis is someone who is very reliable. He will play through injury and is always willing to compete. He is a great stay at home defenceman.”

Birks made Tonello his team captain last season. He played a season and a half in Trail after starting his BCHL career in 2008-09 with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. In 2009-10, he notched 2 goals 16 assists and 33 minutes in penalty time. His rookie season (2008-09), the 187 pound Tonello had a goal and six assits and 44 minutes in penalty time in 48 games.

“I was looking to play NCAA Hockey in the States but decided to stay in Canada,” he adds. “I have heard TRU is a very strong team and just fell short of winning the league and that its run very much like a high level junior team.”

Tonello will be enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program at TRU. He becomes the third defenceman signed by the WolfPack this off season joining Mike McCance (Whistler, BC-Kamloops Storm KIJHL) and Shane Oatway (Kamloops, BC—Fort McMurray Barons AJHL). Other prospects signed for 2011-12 are goaltender Shane Mainprize (Valemount,BC-- the Portage College Voyageurs, ACAC) and Duncan Schulz (Kamloops, BC-Kamloops Storm, KIJHL)

ICE CHIPS: Tonello will return to Trail with his new teammates on September 17th. The WolfPack are playing the Smoke Eaters in an exhibition game to raise money for the family of one of their assistant coaches.

Barry Zanier (who’s brother Mike played WHL hockey for the old Kamloops Chiefs) has a young daughter who is in Alberta Children’s Hospital with a heart problem. Money raised from the game will go to helping the family with expenses.

There is another Kamloops/Trail hockey connection with this year’s Smoke Eaters. Their other assistant coach is Bob Dever who went to school at TRU and played minor hockey here. He joins Trail after coaching in the KIJHL with the Creston Thundercats.