Chiefs Name Former Vipers Captain Rampone New Assistant Coach:

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League's (KIJHL) Kelowna Chiefs have named former Vernon Vipers defenceman-captain Lennie Rampone new Assistant Coach.  Rampone played two seasons in Vernon (1997-1999) after being acquired from the Quesnel Millionaires.  Early into the 1997-98 season the Millionaires traded Rampone to the Vipers for Brett Mekelburg.  Rampone played in 112 regular season games with the Vipers collecting (15-goals-46-assists-61-points).

Lennie Rampone's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?statsleague=WC&player=157066&team=&year=&status=&leagueid=&season=

This is posted on the Chiefs website:

Kelowna Chiefs Bolster Coaching Staff

June 3, 2015

The Kelowna Chiefs have beefed up their bench bosses with the addition of two high-calibre Assistant Coaches.

The Chiefs are excited to announce Ryan Jorde and Lennie Rampone, both local residents, to the coaching staff.

Jorde and Rampone will help Head Coach Jason Tansem in the quest to win a KIJHL Championship by increasing the focus on player development this year.

“We felt we needed to bolster our program even further in the areas of player skill development, power skating, and coaching experience,” said General Manager Grant Sheridan. “These two additions will support Tansem in all those areas and allow players to receive even more coaching to enhance their development.”

Born and raised in Kelowna, Jorde is no stranger to the rink. He spent the past four years with the Pursuit of Excellence Academy where he was both an Assistant Coach and Head Coach. He was also the Head Power Skating Instructor for POE Academy plus the Edge of Excellence Power Skating Schools.

Being drafted in the WHL Bantam Draft 25th overall in 1997 by the Tri-City Americans, Jorde went on to play parts of five years in the WHL and was eventually drafted and signed by the Buffalo Sabres in 2001. He spent 10 seasons in the AHL and IHL, plus two years in Europe.

His experience and passion working with young players in skill development and skating is a welcome addition to the Kelowna Chiefs.

Also born and raised in Kelowna, Rampone spent his childhood playing local minor hockey. He led the Vernon Vipers to the 1999 Royal Bank Cup National Championship title as their captain. Rampone then went on to play college hockey with St. Norbert College where he captained the school’s hockey team and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration. Since finishing his playing career, Rampone has coached in both Kelowna and Calgary.

Rampone and his wife Katie recently relocated back to Kelowna with their son Johan and daughter Jayde and he will continue to grow his Mortgage Brokerage business in the Central Okanagan. 

The Kelowna Chiefs would like to welcome both Jorde and Rampone to the coaching staff.