The Victoria Grizzlies are for sale for the second time in less than two years.
According to several sources, Ron Walchuk — head of Vancouver Island Sports and Entertainment Ltd., which officially purchased the B.C. Hockey League club from Len Barrie in the summer of 2012 — has actively pursued potential buyers.
One source, who did not want to be named, said Walchuk has already received an offer for the Grizzlies, with various stipulations having to be met.
Walchuk did not return phone calls Saturday.
Sources confirmed interest in the club from within Victoria — Walchuk has spoken to John Wilson of Wilson’s Transport — and outside, with the thought of keeping the team in Colwood. One rumour making the round Friday after the Grizzlies’ 5-3 win over Nanaimo was that Jay Magnussen, director of scouting for the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, was in touch with Walchuk regarding the sale.
Magnussen, who was visiting relatives in town, said he was there as a spectator and was approached by a team representative to meet Walchuk. He simply took the time to meet and discuss hockey with the local owner.
Magnussen stressed he was not representing anyone from the community- owned AJHL club, which is run by a board of directors. This was confirmed by Wayne Lauinger, president and governor of the Okotoks Oilers.
Magnussen, a real estate agent in Okotoks and Calgary, who is also skilled in finance and project management, is an acquaintance of Darren Paylor, the owner of Woody’s RV World, with businesses in Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton and Grande Prairie, Alta.
According to several AJHL sources, Paylor has previously had interests in a Junior A team. But Magnussen maintained Saturday that he was not at Bear Mountain Arena on any business matters.
Any sale would have to be approved by the BCHL, as it was when Walchuk and VISE Ltd. first purchased the club. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to become an owner of this great hockey franchise with its long history of success in the community,” Walchuk said in June 2012.
The Grizzlies team was in Powell River Saturday night where it dropped a 3-2 double-overtime decision to the Island Division-leading Kings. Aidan Wright opened the scoring at 3:15 of the first period for the hosts, who have lost just twice in regulation time this season, one of those at home to the Grizzlies.
Luke Nogard made it 2-0 on a Powell River power play at 4:39 of the second period before Myles Fitzgerald and Cole Pickup tied it up with third-period markers for Victoria.
Drew Dorantes ended it at 33 seconds of the second extra frame for the Kings.
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