IT’S OVER
CALGARY (CP) – The Western Hockey League will vote next week on the sale of two franchises.
The Prince George Cougars and Regina Pats have both entered agreements to transfer ownership, the WHL said Wednesday in a statement.
Rick Brodsky, the Cougars’ owner since 1994, intends to sell the team to a group of Prince George businessmen and former WHL players headed by Greg Pocock.
The Prince George Citizen has reported NHL defencemen and Cougar alumni Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer are part of the new ownership group which bought the team for almost $7 million.
Russ and Diane Parker, who purchased the Pats in 1995, have agreed to sell the team to Regina businessmen including Anthony Marquart.
The sales require two-thirds of the WHL’s board of governors to be in favour of the transactions. They’ll vote April 30 in Calgary prior to the league’s awards luncheon. If approved, the ownership transfers will be completed in May, according to the WHL.
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Meanwhile I spoke with new Pats owner Anthony Marquart on Wednesday and while he declined to go on tape until the sale is ratified, he did provide a few quotes for the SportsCage and this blog. I recapped our discussion on Twitter:
“@sportscage
Talked to new Pats owner Anthony Marquart. Says he wants to meet ALL staff first. He’s not suggesting ANY changes 1/2
2/2 Says he is “stoked!” and “Wants to WIN!”. Marquart says a first-place finisher deserves his respect, regarding staff
One more fr new Pats owner Anthony Marquart. Said they won’t get into ownership specifics until deal is ratified”
Anthony guaranteed his first interview after the deal is officially completed will be with 620 CKRM.
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One of Marquart’s ownership partners is former Regina Pats goaltender Todd Lumbard. Check out this photo of the 1983 Regina Pats which features Lumbard as #1 in the front row:
(Russ Parker photo courtesy Taylor Shire)
The Parker and Brodsky families are getting out of the junior hockey business.
Your opponents will miss you a great deal….
I think the headline on this story says more than it's intention doesn't it.
They are yesterday's news now. Yet the Malcontents will declare nothing is over until they decide it is.
Take your millions and just leave. It truly is over.
Obama
1995 they came in to great fanfare with pomp and circumstance. 2014 it's one guy sitting at a table. That tells the entire story.
Nice work Roddy, you brought Marquarts name up on this one way back in your friday rodservations from August 3, 2013.
Of course nobody knows what will happen with the new ownership group, but on day one they will have as many Memorial Cup/WHL Championships as the old regime.
This is enough reason for optimism.
Agreed with the last anon Rod. You had your finger on the pulse of what's going on long ago, despite Brent's best attempts to give you one last kick in the nuts. I'm sure the new owners will give you way more respect than they did.
Gunderson
Well what happened when the Parkers took over in 1995? What happened when the Saskatoon group took over?
This is why I'm proud to be in a Union. We get protection and don't have to lose sleep when these things happen
Yeah, and all done with a "I don't give a s#!t" attitude too, right!? SLACKER!!
Ya the union saves your ass from doing your job.
You are the kind of knucklehead that deserves to be replaced by a foreign worker…
The Rock
When does the parade start?
I hope this leads to the return of you doing play-by-play!
I remember some crazy old man (Jon maybe?) calling into the Sportscage during Pats/Brandon series. He said "Word in the Laundromat is the Pats are sold if they lose series" Guess his Laundromat rumour came to fruition.
I don't understand the Brent Parker hate. He gave a story to a media outlet. If he did that to you, you would be loving it. What's the difference here? Seems like you are grinding an axe for childish reasons Rod.
Tom
Tom if you knew the back story of what Brent did to Rod, you'd be pretty bitter as well. And you'd know it's no coincidence that he leaked the story to Rod's main competition.
Still no reason to act unprofessional/childish.
This should just start the housecleaning. From poor merchandising, to poor management. Start from the bottom and work your way up.
It's over…finally. Love the fact the new owner gives you the first real interview.
Hurts doesn't it, Tom/Al/Brent.
Obama probably just got a huge kickstand in his pants looking at that picture. He lives and breathes the 80's Pats.
HUGE ?
A couple three things: 1) How many Gen X'ers have those Pats' cards Cops would give out to kids? We still have them all. Look at that front row. Jamie Reeves and Al Tuer – those are the guys you want on the ice during a bench clearing brawl vs. Brandon, and is that Kevin Gallant? They let the Broadcaster in the team picture imagine that……To have a time machine and to watch that era again…dare to dream. 2) The Regina Pats signed a radio rights contract with Harvard Broadcasting. To then turn around and leak a story to Rawlco… Read more »
80s Pats were the best era, and guaranteed when you went to a game those teams had an identity, and there was a chance every night they would win. There was none of this, hey we want a fast small team. Then fire a Coach and say, hey now we want a big lumbering team. Go through those rosters – top 6, bottom 6, and horses on D. Those rosters were loaded, and that was how you put a plan in place to execute it. Listening to that interview Russ gave and about the lack of playoff success he said… Read more »
////// GO BRONCOS GO //////
…actually for historical accuracy the Pats were in last place when they traded for Leier but also came Zagraggen, Hanson, Schacher, Wapple, McVeigh!..The pennant was paid for with a lot of future picks. That can't be done like that anymore. It is a typical management move that has always been done here. Had these trades not been made we would have finished last. None of these players had anything to do with the previous scouting director. We paid a heavy price losing a bunch of picks over the next few drafts. How can we forget the back to back first… Read more »