VANCOUVER — It is a business decision Dan Hamhuis made with both his head and his heart.
The Vancouver Canucks defenceman talked Tuesday about why he decided to become involved with a group that is about to complete its purchase of the Western Hockey League’s Prince George Cougars. Hamhuis acknowledged he has a strong emotional attachment to the northern B.C. community.
“I’ve got a real close attachment with Prince George because I played junior there,” he said. “It’s also a place personally that means a lot to me, meeting my wife (Sarah) there, getting married, having our first kid. We still go back every summer for our charity golf tournament and from being up north (Smithers) there are just a lot of close personal ties.”
But Hamhuis, who is part of a group that also includes fellow NHL defenceman and Cougar alumni Eric Brewer, also thinks junior hockey can thrive again in Prince George.
“On the business side it looks like it could be a good investment,” he said. “I believe in the city and we hope to get the building full again. And I think we can do it. It’s a great hockey city up there, there are so many hockey fans. Hopefully, this renews some interest with the change of ownership.”
The Cougars just missed the playoffs for the fifth time in the last seven seasons and have had the worst attendance in the WHL in recent years. The Prince George Citizen reported earlier this month that current owner Rick Brodsky was selling the team to a group led by Prince George businessman Greg Pocock for $7 million.
Hamhuis said Pocock’s group is committed to keeping the team in Prince George.
“It is two guys (Hamhuis and Brewer) that have played there, both guys have their wives from there and the businessmen that are involved are all Prince George guys so obviously that’s the goal,” he said. “It’s never been discussed in our group to move the team. We believe that Prince George is a place where it can work.”
Beginning in 1998-99, Hamhuis spent four seasons with the Cougars. He said he expects the sale of the team to be completed in the next week or two.
