The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have been sold to a sports and entertainment company out of Victoria, but they will be staying in Port Alberni.
The BC Hockey League (BCHL) board of governors announced late Thursday (July 18) they have given unanimous approval for the sale of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs to Keycorp Sports & Entertainment Ltd. of Victoria.
The company, which own the Victoria Shamrocks of the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA), will become the majority owners, while the existing Port Alberni Junior Hockey Society (PAJHS) will remain involved, working with the new owners. Others in the ownership group include Ron Coutre of Victoria, Dennis See, Stefanie Weber and Tim MacLean of Port Alberni.
鈥淭he League鈥檚 board of governors are looking forward to the blend of old and new with the Alberni Valley franchise, as majority ownership and management falls under Keycorp, an experienced sports organization with a true understanding of our league,鈥� BCHL chairman of the board Graham Fraser said in a statement.
鈥淲e are also pleased to see that local ownership will be maintained by keeping the PAJHS in the mix.鈥�
Jim Pelk, chair of the PAJHS, said the team will be staying in Port Alberni鈥攁 promise the society made when they announced last year that the team was up for sale. 鈥淲e have safeguards in the agreement that will keep the team here,鈥� Pelk said while cautioning 鈥渘othing鈥檚 forever.
鈥淭hat was a major stumbling block for us, right from the beginning. We feel we鈥檝e got it protected as best as we can.鈥�
Pelk said the society has been negotiating with interested parties since the beginning of the year. Now that the BCHL governors have approved the purchase, he said the team will start with a clean slate. 鈥淎ll debts are paid off, or will be when the lawyers are finished with everything. There will be no outstanding bills, liabilities, payments, nothing,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he City (of Port Alberni) has been paid off, vendors are paid off鈥攅verybody鈥檚 paid.鈥�
Originally an expansion team in 1998 playing out of Burnaby, the Bulldogs moved to Alberni Valley in 2002 and have been there ever since. The PAJHS bought the team in 2012 for $600,000, running it under a community ownership model. They have had a few winning seasons in their history, but not in the last few years.
鈥淭he Bulldogs are a pillar of our Island Division and the commitment by the fans of Alberni Valley to their franchise has been demonstrated through their 17 years there,鈥� said BCHL Commissioner Chris Hebb. 鈥淲e believe the energy that a new ownership group brings will drive renewed interest and it will be a strong franchise for many years to come.鈥�
Keycorp Sports & Entertainment president David Michaud will assume the same role with the Bulldogs. Michaud has years of experience with the BCHL, spending parts of four seasons with the Penticton Vees and serving on the BCHL鈥檚 board of governors. He has served as the Bulldogs鈥� business manager since January 2019, after former business manager Tali Campbell left to join the BCHL Nanaimo Clippers.
鈥淭he goal of Keycorp Sports and Entertainment is to acquire properties that would help us expand our reach in the sporting world here on Vancouver Island and beyond,鈥� said Michaud.
鈥淎cquiring the Bulldogs is a tremendous opportunity and we鈥檙e very excited to help build on the work that the PAJHS has put in over the years. I鈥檝e seen first hand what an exciting atmosphere the Multiplex can create. It鈥檚 our mission to return the Bulldogs to a position of prominence in the community and continue to move players along to the NCAA and ultimately professional hockey.鈥�
ICE CHIPS鈥ulldogs鈥� head coach Joe Martin has been named the head coach of Team Canada West for the upcoming 2019 World Jr. A Challenge in Dawson Creek from Dec. 7鈥�15.
