TAMBELLINI EXTENSION OFFICIAL

It’s been obvious for weeks that the Edmonton Oilers have extended the contract of general manager Steve Tambellini. Today, the team made it official by way of its Twitter feed:

"President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe announces the #Oilers have agreed to terms on a new contract for GM Steve Tambellini"

Still waiting on a news release from the team. Stay tuned.

"President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe announced today the Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms on a new contract for General Manager Steve Tambellini.

Kevin Lowe says, "Three years ago we asked Steve to begin a rebuild which we all know hasn’t been easy.  However, Oilers fans can take some consolation in the fact that Steve and his staff have acquired some amazing talent which will most definitely be the cornerstone to future sustained success for the Edmonton Oilers."

This past season saw Tambellini and the management team make Edmonton’s second number one overall draft pick with the selection of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

After winning the 2012 Draft Lottery, the Oilers will have the opportunity to select first overall for the third consecutive time. Two years ago they chose Taylor Hall with their first ever number one pick.

Tambellini joined the Oilers on July 31, 2008, after 17 seasons as a member of the Vancouver Canucks management team. The 54-year-old native of Trail, British Columbia, served as the Canucks’ Vice President and Assistant General Manager for three seasons (2005-06 to 2007-08). In his role with the Canucks, Tambellini was involved in all aspects of the team’s hockey operations including contract negotiations, scouting and minor league affiliates.

Tambellini and Lowe have previously worked together as members of Team Canada’s management team, helping lead Canada to success on the international stage. As Director of Player Personnel, Tambellini helped put together the roster that won the gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was also a member of the management team for Team Canada’s gold medal triumph at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. He also served as the General Manager of Team Canada at the 2003 and 2005 IIHF World Hockey Championships, winning the gold medal in Finland in 2003 and silver in 2005.

Inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, Tambellini played 10 seasons in the NHL after being selected 15th overall in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft by the New York Islanders. A member of New York’s 1980 Stanley Cup championship team, the centre played 553 career NHL games with five NHL teams between 1978-79 and 1987-88. After scoring his first NHL goal with the Islanders in 1979-80, he went on to score 160 goals and 150 assists for 310 career points with 105 penalty minutes with New York, the Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.

Tambellini’s hockey roots run deep with Team Canada. Prior to working as a member of the management staff for Team Canada, he represented his country three times in international play. He won a bronze medal with the 1978 Canadian National Junior Team and finished fourth at both the 1981 IIHF World Hockey Championship and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta."