WHL approves sale of Portland Winter Hawks

The Western Hockey League has approved the sale of the Portland Winter Hawks to Canadian businessman Bill Gallacher, who currently owns the British Columbia Hockey League's Nanaimo Clippers. With all the trials and tribulations under the current ownership, including the league's worst record the past two seasons, a 1-6 start this season and plummenting attendance, this news will undoubtedly be met with overwhelming approval in Portland and throughout the WHL. Portland, home to the first incarnation of the Edmonton Oil Kings since 1976, was long one of the model franchises in Major Junior hockey, but has fallen hard in the past several years. It will now be up to Mr. Gallacher, expected to take control when the sale closes by the end of this month, to restore the team to it's former high levels, both on and off the ice.

Here's the latest on the sale of the team:

From the Oregonian newspaper in Portland, Oregon:
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2008/10/troubled_winter_hawks_sold.html

From the Portland Tribune in Portland, Oregon:
http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=122410811133285900

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=122418644378226900

From the Western Hockey League:
http://www.whl.ca/news/?id=10296

I have followed the team from the time they came to Portland in 1976 and although I haven't seen them play since 2005, I still consider them my hometown team and still keep up on them each season. This is an exciting time for hockey in Portland and I wish them the best. Now, if only something similar would happen to the Tri-City Storm, I'd be in hockey heaven!