After spending time with the Victoria Grizzlies and Nanaimo Clippers, Tali Campbell is bringing his contacts and experience to the Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals.
Recently named the new community relations manager, Campbell, who studied media relations at the University of Victoria, is looking forward to the opportunity with the Generals this upcoming season.
“Working with the Grizzlies and Clippers allowed me to get some real good experience,” Campbell said. “I’m excited to come in here and work with the Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals. I love hockey and I love being around the game so it was a no brainer to take this job.”
Campbell recently took over the group, Youth Sticking Together, about three years ago and helped with their goal of setting a Guinness world record for the longest outdoor road hockey game. The group attempted to break the 105 hour and 17 minute mark two years ago but came up shy, lasting 54 hours.
“We thought we were superheroes, we were just teenagers and thought we could do it,” Campbell said.
“We quickly learned it wasn’t that easy. These guys out here, these 40 players, they know it won’t be easy but they’ve all got the heart and battle in them to make this dream become a reality,” he said.
Looking to get the new faces on the Generals back out in to the community, Campbell has been working to get the team out in the eyes of the public so the fans can engage with the team and get to know them.
“I know they didn’t have the best season last year, there’s no hiding that,” Campbell said.
“I think that working to get this group of players out there in the public will help bridge the gap between the team and the fans,” he said.
“I love a challenge and to me, this was one heck of a challenge with all the changes that have been going on with the team,” Campbell said.
Campbell is hoping to capitalize on the smaller Oceanside area, combining his experience with the Grizzlies and Clippers, reporting for the Island Sporting News and his North Island Silvertips play-by-play.
“There’s going to be challenges, of course, but I’m up for it,” Campbell said. “We had the players come out to our road hockey challenge and meeting them first hand was great. It was just a small group but they were more than happy to be here and get themselves and the team out in the public.”
For Campbell, it’s little things like the team’s enthusiasm to get out there and take part in these events that makes the challenge a lot easier.
“For sure, they’re a big part in all of this,” Campbell said of the players. “It can be tough, going out and being on the losing end of a tough game and then having to do an event the next day.”
“The direction the team wants to go this season is right up my alley in terms of what I’d like to see with this group of guys and I’m looking forward to it.”