After 37 years of operating the Enderby/Salmon Arm Hockey School, owners Gord Mackintosh, Tom Marsh and Roy Sakaki have sold the summer school to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the B.C. Hockey League.
The Backs will resume ownership immediately and all current programs will be honoured for the 2017 hockey school.
In 1981, Mackintosh and Sakaki purchased the Enderby Hockey School from the late Rick Anderson. After 20 successful years working in Enderby, the opportunity came up to transfer the hockey school to the new facility in Salmon Arm. After 17 years at Shaw Centre, the partners felt it was time to move on.
“It makes sense with the Silverbacks taking over the school as they can provide some outstanding instruction from their coaching staff, past alumni and local minor hockey coaches,” said Macintosh, a former Vernon Essos goaltender. “We wish them the very best.”
Vernon’s Troy Mick, GM and part owner of the Silverbacks, is thrilled with the new enterprise.
“The Salmon Arm Silverbacks are excited to be the new owner and operators of the Salmon Arm Hockey School effective immediately from three legends in our community,” said Mick. “Roy Sakaki, Gord Mackintosh and Tom Marsh have been amazing ambassadors to this community for a long time and we are looking forward to continuing on the great hockey school that they started 38 years ago.
“We will be honouring these three gentlemen during our opening night ceremonies for the start of the 2017-2018 BCHL season. Nothing will change for this coming August but stay tuned for some exciting news moving forward in regards to the hockey school for 2018. You will see lots of Silverbacks coaches and players taking to the ice to help develop these young hockey players on and off the ice.”
