(Chad Campbell and the 1973 Penticton Broncos celebrated their 50th reunion at the SOEC in October)
PENTICTON, B.C. – The Penticton Vees Junior Hockey announced Tuesday the team’s Top Scorer Award will be rebranded as the Chad Campbell Award, in honour of the Penticton Bronco alum.
Chad Campbell played for the Broncos for three seasons (1970-1973), winning a BC Junior Hockey League (BCJHL) championship in 1973. The Penticton, B.C. product was in attendance when the 1973 Broncos team celebrated their 50th anniversary at the SOEC in October.
“It’s people like Chad who have built the foundation of junior hockey in Penticton. It was Chad, along with his lifelong friend and teammate, Bob Nicholson, that helped me bring back the 1972-73 championship Broncos that we honoured this season. That night solidified for me how special and unique our program really is,” began Vees President, General Manager, and Head Coach Fred Harbinson. “Chad‘s Legacy will be forever remembered through the naming of our top scorer award, which is fitting and well-deserved.”
Campbell led the BCJHL in scoring in his final season with the Broncos, as he posted 123 points, including 53 goals, in 62 regular season games in the 1972-73 season. That season, Penticton beat Chilliwack in the BCJHL Final in seven games. Campbell and the Broncos went on to win the Doyle Cup, the BC – Alberta championship, in five games over the Calgary Canucks. The Broncos lost the Abbott Cup, the Wester Canadian Championship, in a memorable seven-game series against Portage la Prairie.
Campbell went on to play four seasons at University of Denver from 1974-1977 and amassed 136 points in 143 career games. Campbell served as a captain of the Pioneers in the 1975-76 season. He also was drafted by the Houston Aeros in the 1975 World Hockey Association draft.
The Vees have plans to unveil more renamed team awards in the coming months.
