WESTVILLE ROAD, N.S. – The rumours that have been circulating in the community are true: the Pictou County Crushers are under new ownership, the Maritime Hockey League announced Saturday.
The Weeks organization has owned the team since its inception 16 years ago, but the board of directors feel that change will bring fresh ideas and excitement for the team and community.
“We have been discretely looking for a buyer for quite some time, but were adamant the team stay in Pictou County,” team president Wade Sullivan said in a league-issued release.
The new owners are Bruce Ryan, originally from Mulgrave but now living in Corner Brook, N.L., and Scott Burden, originally from Corner Brook but now living in Halifax.
They are excited to be part of the MHL.
“We are wholeheartedly committed to the team and its success in the community. Pictou County is a very proud hockey region. I'm sure the community feels a sense of ownership with the team, and we'd like that to continue,” Burden said.
The Weeks’ family have committed to remain as the team’s named sponsor and the new owners have agreed to keep the Crushers in Pictou County for the foreseeable future. The team will remain under the Weeks organization's ownership until the end of the season, at which time Burden and Ryan will take over.
There was no word about the future of head coach Doug Doull and his coaching staff.
The Crushers own a 12-13-3-2 record, fifth in the Eastlink South Division.
Note: The league’s board of governors terminated the contract of MHL president Brian Whitehead on Saturday. Board chair Dave Ritcey has been named as interim president until the end of the season.
