This is posted on the Morning Star website:
BREAKING: Sale talks progress for Vernon Vipers
B.C. Hockey League franchise
Kevin Mitchell
Aug. 31, 2018
Sports
Talks are progressing in the sale of the Vernon Vipers.
After weeks of speculation, the B.C. Hockey League told The Morning Star a few minutes ago that new owners and the existing Vernon franchise owner are in negotiations.
The league says Vernon has identified a new owner and the BCHL is in the process of reviewing its franchise process.
The Morning Star reported Aug. 17 that rumours around Kal Tire Place had the Vipers being purchased by a group of out of town businessmen. The two men are believed to be owners of car dealerships and will retain the services of head coach/GM Mark Ferner, whose contract has expired with the team.
The six-time national Junior A champion Vipers lost their longtime owner Duncan Wray in January when he died in his sleep, at age 68. Wray’s widow, Libby, assumed the ownership and governor’s role.
Duncan, an oral surgeon beloved by fans, coaches and players, bought the then Vernon Lakers in 1992 from Vernon businessman Mel Lis and two years later re-named them the Vipers.
The BCHL has not announced the date for its franchise meeting with the proposed new owners. Guesses on how much the Vipers will fetch range from $750,000 to $1 million.
The Vipers face the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in exhibition play tonight at the Shaw Centre. The teams meet Saturday, 6 p.m., at Kal Tire Place. Vernon opens the regular season Friday, Sept. 7 against the defending champion Wenatchee Wild.
This is posted on the 107.5 Beach Radio website:
BCHL Reviews Sale of Vernon Vipers
Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon
Kate Bouey
August 31, 2018
It appears the Vernon Vipers hockey club is about to get new owners.
“Where is stands right now is the current owners of the Vernon Vipers have identified a new ownership group and have brought them forward to the league and their application to become the new owners of the Vipers is under review right now by the BCHL,” Brent
Mutis, the BC Hockey League’s communications director, told Beach Radio News Friday afternoon.
Mutis could not say if local people were involved in the purchase of the club or how long the review would take.
As far as the coaches are concerned, Mutis believes contracts for the staff are currently registered.
“If the ownership application is approved and the new group moves forward, it’ll be up to them to inherit those contracts and decide whether to honour them or not,” Mutis says. “As far as operation of the team on the ice, I don’t think anything changes in the short term. It would be a decision of the new ownership group, should they be approved, what they’re going to do with the current staff.”
Just a few weeks ago, the current owner Libby Wray denied she was selling the club.
Wray took over ownership of the team when her husband — Duncan — died in January.
Duncan Wray bought the team in 1992 when it was the Vernon Lakers, changing the name to Vipers in 1995.
2 comments:
Thanks for the update!
Not sure why this issue wasn't more transparent. Everyone seemed to know a sale was imminent and the silence that was 'attempted' was a distraction.
This whole thing is leaving a bad taste in my mouth and I hope it doesn't affect the team more than it already has by certain prospects not attending training camp due to the confusion.
I hope the new owners listen to some of DieHard's suggestions about better marketing and get Vernon loving their hockey again.
I would just like to say that with all the comments about how are marketing and sales staff should and could be better that maybe we have it all wrong. Maybe Duncan wanted and liked things run a certain way and even though his staff had made suggestions on how to get better with the sales and marketing as to ways and means to fill the hockey seats that perhaps there hands were tied. It is possible that Duncan liked the way things where being run and didn't want to change things. A perfect example of that would be vipers coach, Williamson. The fans and I am sure staff wanted a change but Duncan would not here of it. So maybe his staff wanted change but under his watch it wasn't going to happen. I am just sayin . Have a great day diehard fans.
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