July 18, 2024
At the most recent Annual General Meeting, the BCHL Board of Governors approved the sale of the Victoria Grizzlies franchise to local businessman Jim Hartshorne.
Hartshorne, who is now the majority owner of the team, is also the owner of the Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse club that competes in the Western Lacrosse Association and, like the Grizzlies, plays out of the Q Centre. He was previously part of the ownership group of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and, before that, was the owner of the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League from 1980 to 1989.
David Michaud, formerly the President of the Bulldogs, has also joined the Grizzlies in the same role.
“Keycorp Sports & Entertainment was proud of our involvement in the Alberni Valley, but the chance to do this in Victoria and unite two of the Westshore’s premiere franchises in the Grizzlies and Shamrocks was just too good of an opportunity to pass on,” said Michaud. “We’re excited to help elevate the Grizzlies profile in the Westshore and build this into one of the most highly regarded franchises in the BCHL.”
An agreement was put in place back in April, but the official sale was approved after the conclusion of the 2023-24 BCHL league year.
“We are very excited to have Jim and David take over operations in Victoria after a successful run in Alberni Valley,” said BCHL Commissioner Steven Cocker. “The impressive results this ownership group was able to achieve with the Bulldogs gives us confidence that he will be able to take the Grizzlies to the next level in years to come.”
