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Tipped Off
03-17-2006, 10:19 AM
Arizona group cleared to buy Winter Hawks

Friday, March 17, 2006
MOLLY BLUE
The Western Hockey League Board of Governors on Thursday signed off on the sale of the Portland Winter Hawks franchise to an ownership group, based in Tucson, Ariz., led by Jack Donovan, who until recently was the operations manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Donovan said there are no plans to move the franchise, which is in its 30th season in Portland. And he added that for now, no changes will be made in the Hawks' staff and that Ken Hodge, who had been majority owner, will remain as the team's general manager.

League commissioner Ron Robison said the vote from the 21-member board was unanimous.

Donovan, who was in Calgary for the meeting, said all that remains for the transfer of ownership is the closing, similar to buying a house.

He wouldn't reveal details of the deal, other than to say it is "a stock purchase. We're stepping into the shoes of the existing owners."

The deal should be finalized by April 1, Robison said.

The Winter Hawks (30-31-3-5, 68 points), who won the Memorial Cup in 1983 and 1998, are in third place in the U.S. Division, and will be in the league playoffs, which start in less than two weeks.

Donovan, who said he'll be in Portland as early as Sunday, when the Hawks play host to Tri-City in their final regular-season game, said his immediate goals are to "get through the season, have a big run in the playoffs and go from there."

The other two principals are New York-based Jim Goldsmith, whom, Donovan said, "I've had an association with for a while," and John Bryant of Dallas, a former congressman who also has co-founded United League Baseball, a six-team league with clubs in Texas and Louisiana.

Donovan said he anticipates having "a sitdown with Ken (Hodge) where we'll take a look and see what's working and what's not working."

Robison said that from the league's perspective, keeping Hodge was crucial.

"The key was Ken is remaining and there's continuity on the hockey side," Robison said. "When a new group comes in, especially one that hasn't been associated with the Western Hockey League, having someone like Ken to guide them in that transition is very important."

The team remaining in Portland was another requirement by the league, Robison said