CHL Expanding to Brampton, Ontario in 2013-14

[chilly666]

GLENDALE, AZ – The Central Hockey League announced today that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a group that will bring a Central Hockey League expansion franchise to Brampton, Ontario for the 2013-14 season.

The Brampton franchise would mark the 12th team slated to play in the League in the 2013-14 season joining the St. Charles Chill as expansion clubs.

“It is very exciting to make this announcement,” said Duane Lewis, Central Hockey League Commissioner. “I grew up in this area and know firsthand what a positive addition this market will be to our current roster of teams. Our hope is to expand further in the future in the Southern Ontario area.”

The Brampton Franchise will be in strong hands both from a hockey and business perspective.

The team will be led by Kingston entrepreneur, owner of Kimco Steel, and former owner of the Kingston Voyageurs, Gregg Rosen, who will be Owner of the Team; and Cary Kaplan, president of the sports marketing firm, Cosmos Sports and former president of the Hamilton Bulldogs, who will assume the role of President & Governor of the team.

"I am very excited and honored to be working with the Central Hockey League, to bring professional hockey to the City and the people of Brampton; as the first Canadian team in league history,” said Rosen. “We believe that Brampton is a great hockey market. Cary and I are committed to providing great entertainment, winning hockey and community leadership to the City and being a successful and vibrant Central Hockey League franchise for many years."

Both the Central Hockey League and the potential ownership group have been working towards finalizing the agreement and completing all legal documents. The team name, the ownership group and other important team details will be announced in the near future.

“As you can imagine, there is much that has to be completed and finalized to make this historic step to Canada for the Central Hockey League,” said Lewis. “We have been working diligently to complete everything and the LOI is the next step to putting the new franchise on the Central Hockey League map.”

[Kid Roberts]

The next closest team is in...Missouri? HUH?

[chilly666]

actually it's bloomington, il

but for arizona (if they stick around) it's a 4400 mile roundtrip

[woeisme]

Google maps says it's a 9.5 hour drive from Brampton to Bloomington. And Brampton's OHL team averaged less then 2,000 attendance per game all of last season. Well best of luck to this new team I guess.

[chilly666]

GLENDALE, AZ – The Central Hockey League announced today that all the necessary paperwork and documentation with the new franchise in Brampton, Ontario, the City of Brampton and the Powerade Centre have been finalized. All parties entered into a Letter of Intent in late January. The new franchise will compete in the 2013-14 season and will be the first League franchise in Canada.

“When the prospect of Brampton becoming a Central Hockey League franchise surfaced, we were very excited,” said Duane Lewis, Central Hockey League Commissioner. “Now that all the T’s are crossed and I’s dotted, I am even more ecstatic. Adding this market to our current roster of teams is such a positive step for the league and helping the Central Hockey League’s brand north of the border.”

The Brampton Franchise is led by Kingston entrepreneur, owner of Kimco Steel, and former owner of the Kingston Voyageurs, Gregg Rosen, who will be Owner of the Team; and Cary Kaplan, president of the sports marketing firm, Cosmos Sports and former president of the Hamilton Bulldogs, who will assume the role of President & Governor of the team.

"This is a monumental day for the City of Brampton, and we are elated to be the first Central Hockey League team in Canada,” said Kaplan. “Our future fans will not be disappointed, as we will consistently provide winning hockey and tremendous family entertainment to Brampton and the surrounding communities".