ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -- The board chairman of St. John's Sports and Entertainment says no one from the QMJHL contacted them about stepping in to save the Fog Devils, which were sold this week to Montreal businessman Farrel Miller.

Miller bought the hockey team for more than $3 million and plans to move it to Verdun, Que., next season.

St. John's Sports and Entertainment chairman Gerry Smith said he was surprised by the news and didn't see it coming this soon.

"If we were asked we would have looked at the numbers and I wouldn't have said no," said Smith. "If asked, we would have worked through the details and the financial side and the overall impact, but I wasn't asked. It's an interesting question."

In 2004, SJSE lost a fierce competition with the Dobbin family of St. John's to acquire the rights to a QMJHL franchise. The city-affiliated SJSE was optimistic it could successfully run such a team.

SJSE operates the Mile One Centre arena complex, which was a key point in their sales pitch to the league.

The Fog Devils had to pay SJSE $10,000 per game to lease Mile One Centre. The Fog Devils have said the rate was too high and contributed to the team's financial losses.

Smith was negotiating a new rate with the Dobbins when news broke of the sale.

SJSE taking over the Fog Devils was never on the table.

"It wasn't something that was on our radar. (Fog Devils governor Brad Dobbin) really wanted to try to keep the team here and he was committed to that. Pretty well all of our discussions revolved around trying to renegotiate. It was always the focus to keep them here," said Smith.

However, Smith said taking over the team was an option for SJSE down the road.

"Within two or three weeks that might have been the process. We were going to meet with them once or twice or many times. We never really started that process. (The sale) certainly seemed to happen very quickly."

On Thursday, the St. John's Telegram reported that QMJHL commissioner Gilles Corteau phoned St. John's Mayor Andy Wells before Christmas to see if he was interested in the Fog Devils.

"He told me, `I don't have a penny for that team,' " said Corteau.

Wells and Corteau could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Meanwhile, Smith's top priority is to find a major tenant for Mile One.

The SJSE board is set to meet to discuss its options, which still include finding a hockey team and fans to fill the empty seats.

(St. John's Telegram)