The Grizzlies ownership has multiplied from two to seven owners.
The announcement was made at Bear Mountain Arena, Dec. 9. John Wilson, Don Robinson, Reza Binab, Pete Zubersky and Kirby Yeats have all signed on as co-owners.
Zubersky was also appointed as the team’s new director of operations.
“I remember this arena being built. We probably have the best Junior A venue in the country,” said Zubersky.
The new co-owner owned a share in the team from 2003 to 2006 and is excited to be back on the ownership side of the team. He is also a co-owner of the Peninsula Panthers Junior B team.
As the new director of operations Zubersky hopes to enhance the game experience and bring back the crowds and packed seats at Bear Mountain arena. Most games are drawing in about 1,200 fans and the arena has the potential for about 2,800, he explained.
He worked as an RCMP officer with the West Shore RCMP for six years and coached in the Juan de Fuca minor hockey for seven years and hopes his ties to the community will help him in the position.
“It’s really important to get into the community and we want to best friends with Juan de Fuca minor hockey,” he said.
Binab was also a former owner holding stakes in the team from 2002 until 2011. He’s bought back into the team due to “My passion for hockey,” he explained.
Mark Wagstaff has been an owner of the Junior A franchise for the past 18 years, he hopes adding the new owners to the roster help give the team a boost.
“All live sports are seeing a decline, we are not the only one. The teams are never in trouble as long as you have substantially secure owners,” Wagstaff said.
In the future the team hopes to announce more names on its ownership roster.
“We want to make this local BCHL team in to one of the best teams in the country,” said Ron Walchuk, co-owner of the Grizzlies. Walchuk has been an owner of the team for one and half years. “These new owners will help us take this franchise to the next level.”
