Michael Andlauer has sold the Brantford Bulldogs to a group led by Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman, the OHL team announced Monday.
The league's board of directors has approved the sale, and Hyman will assume control of team operations starting Jan. 16.
Hyman, 32, is from Toronto and played for the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Junior Hockey League before moving on to the University of Michigan. His father, Stuart, is the chairman and governor of the Markham Royals and the chairman of the OJHL.
“The Brantford Bulldogs Hockey Club is an amazing organization, from the players, to the staff, to the most passionate fanbase in the OHL. My family and I are thrilled to officially be a part of the Bulldogs family and the Brantford community," Hyman wrote in a statement. "To the city and residents of Brantford, we know what the Bulldogs mean to you and we take this privilege of being the new leaders of the Bulldogs to heart. Thank you to Michael Andlauer for the opportunity to make this dream a reality and entrusting me to steward this remarkable franchise into the future."
Andlauer, who also owns the Ottawa Senators and Belleville Senators, has owned the Bulldogs for the last 10 years. The team relocated from Hamilton to Brantford in 2023 over disagreements between the city and the team about renovations at First Ontario Centre.
"Hockey is more than just a game for my family," Zach Hyman said in a release. "It teaches our youth about the importance of teamwork and it brings together communities.
"I am humbled and greatly appreciate the faith Michael has placed in me to continue his incredible legacy with such a storied franchise."
The team currently plays at the Brantford and District Civic Centre, which has a capacity 2,952 spectators according to the city's website. The OHL says the new ownership group is pursuing a long-term lease agreement with the city that would include plans for a new arena — a $140-million arena complex to open in 2027.
“I want to congratulate Zach Hyman and his family on the purchase of the Brantford Bulldogs," said Andlauer in a statement. "The passion they have portrayed to me in owning an OHL franchise, and their commitment to the Brantford community, a community who has proven to be so deserving of OHL hockey is the major reason for my decision to sell the Club. I want our fans and community to know that I would not sell the team unless I felt certain it was in good hands."
The Bulldogs are sixth in the OHL's Eastern Conference with a 20-15-4 record.
“The strength of the OHL is its communities, and Brantford has proven to be an outstanding destination for OHL hockey,” league commissioner Bryan Crawford said in a release.
"I’m excited to welcome the Hyman family to the OHL community and am looking forward to seeing the OHL continue to thrive in Brantford for years to come," he added.
-- With files from the Canadian Press
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