Thunder Bay Supporters Plan To Bring Professional Hockey To Thunder Bay
by Scott A. Sumner
www.thunderbaybusiness.ca
The name Ice Edge Holdings has become a familiar one to folks in Thunder Bay the last few years. Former residents Anthony LeBlanc and Keith McCullough have a dream of giving back to the Thunder Bay community by bringing a new anchor tenant, an ECHL professional hockey team which will help create a new multiplex arena for the city. Anthony LeBlanc is the CEO of Ice Edge Holdings and currently lives between Ottawa and Phoenix. He was raised in Thunder Bay, went to Agnew Johnston Public School, Winston Churchill High School and then Lakehead University graduating in political science. “ I got into a sales position with a telephone company in New Brunswick out of school and found out I liked sales. After that I started at RIM with Blackberry for 9 years. When I joined they had just released the first Blackberry in January 2000,” noted Anthony LeBlanc who made substantial profits by being at Blackberry near the beginning. “I have roots here in Thunder Bay and want to spend more
time in the community. Keith and I both have strong ties to the city and spend more time here than in the past. A new rink has to have an anchor tenant and we are ready to be it and have the financial resources required. The league is professional but with a development league. I focus on investments that excite me.”Ice Edge Holdings is between 12 to 18 months away from an approval of the franchise so it would be 3 to 4 years before the team comes to Thunder Bay. There is the NHL, American League (AHL) and then the ECHL. The only other league that NHL contracted players can report to if sent to the minor leagues is the AHL or ECHL. 40 % of the players on the ECHL are NHL contracted.
“Our view is the ECHL makes sense when you look at the cities they are already involved with such as Cincinnati, Anchorage and Victoria BC. We think the ECHL makes sense for the size of Thunder Bay, the travel requirements such as a baseball schedule where you play 3 games in a row in one city. Also we like that a good chunk of the team is not under an NHL contract so it allows Thunder Bay players to play that are not drafted to the NHL. The ECHL will have 36 homes games and 36 away.” said LeBlanc whose company would own 100% of the team.
Ice Edge Holding has been widely reported as well as trying to buy the NHL Phoenix Coyotes. This is a separate endeavor where Ice Edge will not be the lead investors. “We are working with a close friend of ours who has chosen to remain anonymous now but will be the lead investor in buying a NHL team. We will also invest in the team though.” said LeBlanc.
Keith McCullough is the Chairman of Ice Edge Holdings and has a home here on Lake Superior and in New Haven Connecticut. “I am a Thunder Bay guy and live on Lakeshore Drive and spend a lot of time there. I have always wanted to give something back to Thunder Bay
in terms of what hockey gave me going to school at Yale and the opportunities that were born out of that time. I had been well coached in hockey growing up in Thunder Bay which gave me
these opportunities,” said Keith McCullough. “We are interested in bringing a new team to Thunder Bay and take a fresh crack at professional hockey here which we think the city is more than deserving in having.”
“Anthony and I work together. In the day, I analyze markets in terms of the Canadian dollar, metals and mining. After watching Thunder Bay economically for many years it looks as good as it has for a long time. A new multi plex facility adds to the reason for people to come here. Having begun the process for an expansion team, we think the economics of this league make the most sense for Thunder Bay. The Fort William Gardens has run its course. We want to
be a part of the process and looking forward to working with the city and people here to bring a new facility to Thunder Bay,” said McCullough. “We feel this market will be great for an ECHL franchise and can be affiliated with any NHL franchise. We like the idea of having local content on the team as a possibility. If you had 6 players on the team from Thunder Bay it would be good for the community.”
