(CFJC Today/File photo).

By Michael Reeve-Q101

Centennials Changes

Centennials fire Chyzowski, hire Toneff as new head coach

Dec 22, 2021 | 12:14 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — The Merritt Centennials are making some changes to their coaching staff after a disappointing first half of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) season.

Head Coach and General Manager Dave Chyzowski has been relieved of his duties with the team, following a 1-20-1 start to his BCHL coaching career with Merritt.

“It’s a common time of year for a staffing review and the board of directors decided that there would be a dismissal of our coach,” Centennials President Kelly Bartch said. “Unfortunately, things weren’t working out as well with coach Dave. We certainly thank him for his time with the team and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Assistant coaches Levi Stuart and Paul Barnes remain with the team.

The new head coach and GM is Curtis Toneff. The former BCHL player is just 28 years old yet comes with a wealth of experience both at this level and Junior B.

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“Curtis had applied for the position some time ago. He was on a short-list then. He has experience in the BCHL, both as a player and as an assistant coach,” Bartch added. “He ticked a lot of the boxes that we were looking for. He is going to come here and be part of the community.”

Following his playing career which ended in 2014, Toneff joined the Campbell River Storm of the VIJHL (Junior B) as an assistant coach. The next season, Toneff joined the staff of the Trail Smoke Eaters in the BCHL for two seasons as an assistant.

In 2017, he got his first head coach and GM shot with the Nanaimo Buccaneers in the VIJHL, where he remained for two seasons and led them to the league semifinals both times.

Most recently, Toneff has served as an assistant coach on the Humboldt Broncos in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.