By Jeff D'Andrea

Bruno Campese stepping down as Raiders GM

May 15, 2015 | 10:31 AM

After “living, breathing and dying Raiders” for the past eight years, Raiders general manager Bruno Campese will not return for a ninth as the Prince Albert Raiders officially announced Friday at the Art Hauser Centre.

When asked what the Raiders have meant to him in that time, Campese started by shaking his head.

“I can honestly tell you, it’s everything,” said Campese. “When I do something, I do it heart and soul. It’s tough, it is a tough day. As much as I’m happy to go home, it’s tough leaving this organization.”

After discussions with his family, Campese decided it was time to return home to West Kelowna, B.C. and be with them. On April 21 when the Raiders signed head coach Marc Habscheid to a four-year deal, Campese made it public that his father-in-law had recently passed away.

Although the Raiders offered Campese to return to the team, he politely declined to head back West.

Event Centre funding

City may hire lobbyist for event centre money

14h ago

International honours

Raiders' Kubiesa to represent Czechia at IIHF U18 Men's World Championship

18h ago

Learn the signs

How often should you change your brakes?

21h ago

“The biggest factor is my family,” said Campese. “There’s no doubt that I would have loved to come back. I love my job, I love the people that I work with but at the end of the day, it’s been a family decision to move back home—I’m good with it and my family’s good with it.”

Campese joined the Raiders as their head coach in 2007, quickly taking over the general manager’s role that season.

In his time with the Raiders in various positions, Campese put together 244-290-42 record, with three playoff berths and a 2-12 postseason record.

During his speech in front in the Art Hauser Centre lobby, Campese talked about buying all the Raiders board members a picture of the Memorial Cup when he first joined the team—a clear message of what his goal was for the organization.

“I guess for me, that’s the biggest disappointment—we didn’t get there,” said Campese. “As a matter of fact, we didn’t get close to there. My job here was to take this team to that level and it didn’t happen.”

Although they never reached the promise land, or even the second round, the Raiders believe the team is in a good position for the future. With their roster as it is, what could be a strong draft this year as well as head coach Marc Habscheid and associate coach Dave Manson locked in for four years, the Raiders under Campese have made strides.

When McFee was asked if the Raiders wanted to hold onto Campese, he answered in the affirmative.

“We feel we’re onto something and we certainly want to continue to build on what we have at this point,” said McFee. “You know what? You have to respect the decision.”

GM/HC position not to Habby

Although there has been speculation as to giving the general manager position to Marc Habscheid, who just signed a four-year deal with the Raiders as their head coach, McFee shut that narrative down on Friday after looking back at the Raiders’ past with that.

From 2007 to the start of the 2012 season, Campese had the head coach/general manager title and the Raiders were 124-159-22 in that span. They were considerably better when Campese just focused on being the general manager. After relinquishing his head coaching duties in 2011 as the Raiders were 120-131-20.

“Marc is obviously a qualified candidate, but I think we’ve been through that experience already. We had a coach/GM and it didn’t work,” said Habscheid. “The business in the Western Hockey League has evolved in a large degree and there are few that are still doing it.”

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

dwilson@panow.com

On Twitter: RaidersVoice