Post by Terry on Jul 24, 2007 13:38:17 GMT -5
Iginla joins bid for Blazers
Sportsnet.ca -- Jarome Iginla wants to buy his former Western Hockey League team, but the club apparently isn't for sale.
According to the Calgary Herald, the Calgary Flames captain has teamed up with fellow Kamloops Blazers alumni Mark Recchi, Shane Doan, and Darryl Sydor as part of River City Hockey Inc to try and purchase the club.
Iginla starred for the Blazers for three seasons and won the Memorial Cup championship with them in 1994 and 1995.
The paper also reports that Tom Gaglardi, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Sandman hotel chain who is currently embroiled in a court battle with Francesco Aquilini over the sale of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, is also part of the group.
River City first tried to buy the club a year ago, but was rebuffed at the time by the club's owners-the not-for-profit Kamloops Blazers Sports Society.
Iginla was not part of River City at that time.
River City says its $6.1 million offer would allow members of the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society to recoup their $1,000 per share investment, plus five per cent annual interest, and that the remaining cash - approximately $5.5 million according to River City - could be used by the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society to fund youth sport and community groups.
Iginla did not comment Monday, but he explained his desire the River City bid in an audio file on the group's website.
"From my point of view, to have the opportunity or chance to own a great team like the Kamloops Blazers would be a huge thrill," said Iginla. "It's a great city and a great hockey city.'
"I was very fortunate to get a chance to play in Kamloops and play for the Blazers," he said. "I had a lot of success on the ice and it helped me reach my dreams and get to the next level. It was also a huge experience in my life. I love hockey, the Western Hockey League and most of all, the Kamloops Blazers."
Since moving to Kamloops from New Westminster, B.C., the franchise has won five WHL titles and three Memorial Cups.
The Blazers haven't won a playoff round since 1999.
www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20070724_124758_5404
Sportsnet.ca -- Jarome Iginla wants to buy his former Western Hockey League team, but the club apparently isn't for sale.
According to the Calgary Herald, the Calgary Flames captain has teamed up with fellow Kamloops Blazers alumni Mark Recchi, Shane Doan, and Darryl Sydor as part of River City Hockey Inc to try and purchase the club.
Iginla starred for the Blazers for three seasons and won the Memorial Cup championship with them in 1994 and 1995.
The paper also reports that Tom Gaglardi, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Sandman hotel chain who is currently embroiled in a court battle with Francesco Aquilini over the sale of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, is also part of the group.
River City first tried to buy the club a year ago, but was rebuffed at the time by the club's owners-the not-for-profit Kamloops Blazers Sports Society.
Iginla was not part of River City at that time.
River City says its $6.1 million offer would allow members of the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society to recoup their $1,000 per share investment, plus five per cent annual interest, and that the remaining cash - approximately $5.5 million according to River City - could be used by the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society to fund youth sport and community groups.
Iginla did not comment Monday, but he explained his desire the River City bid in an audio file on the group's website.
"From my point of view, to have the opportunity or chance to own a great team like the Kamloops Blazers would be a huge thrill," said Iginla. "It's a great city and a great hockey city.'
"I was very fortunate to get a chance to play in Kamloops and play for the Blazers," he said. "I had a lot of success on the ice and it helped me reach my dreams and get to the next level. It was also a huge experience in my life. I love hockey, the Western Hockey League and most of all, the Kamloops Blazers."
Since moving to Kamloops from New Westminster, B.C., the franchise has won five WHL titles and three Memorial Cups.
The Blazers haven't won a playoff round since 1999.
www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20070724_124758_5404