WHL Announces New Ownership for Tri-City Americans and Expansion to Chilliwack, B.C.
CALGARY, AB Ron Robison, Commissioner of the Western Hockey League, announced today that the WHL Board of Governors have granted conditional approval for the sale of the Tri-City Americans and have awarded the City of Chilliwack, B.C. an expansion franchise for the 2006-07 season.
The current Tri-City ownership group consisting of Brian Burke, Glen Sather and Darryl Porter have agreed to sell the Americans franchise to a group of investors who include current NHL players and WHL Alumni Stu Barnes and Olaf Kolzig as well as current Americans’ General Manager Bob Tory and local businessman Dennis Loman. The new ownership group will continue to operate the club out of the Three Rivers Coliseum in Kennewick, Washington.
As part of the transaction, Brain Burke, Glen Sather and Darryl Porter together with Vancouver businessmen Moray Keith and Jim Bond will become the owners of the new expansion franchise in Chilliwack, B.C. The new Chilliwack franchise will join the WHL for the 2006-07 season bringing the total number of WHL member clubs to 21. The Chilliwack franchise will play in the new Prospera Centre, which will be expanded to 5,000 seats for the 2006-07 season.
