Bobby Smith Sells Mooseheads To American Oil Tycoon
HALIFAX — The long-time, majority owner of the Halifax Mooseheads has sold his stake in the team to an American oil tycoon
After two decades as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team’s primary owner, former NHLer Bobby Smith has passed the team off to Sam Simon. Simon, the founder of Atlas Oil, now owns about 85 percent of the team. Neither he nor Smith said what he paid for it.
In a news conference announcing the sale, Smith said the deal made sense because it was with a “good buyer” who could be a real asset to the team.
In 1973, When he was nine, Sam Simon immigrated to the United States with his family. He, his parents, and his four siblings were fleeing persecution as were Armenian Catholics in Iraq.
Eventually, the Simon family launched the Great Lakes Ice Company and purchased their first gas station, where Sam worked.
By 1985, Simon had started Atlas Oil Company with a delivery truck bought on credit. Over time, he built the company into a major wholesaler and expanded its scope significantly.
On February 21, Simon said he has been a hockey fan for decades. He claimed he even tried to buy the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings decades ago.
But what does a change in ownership mean for the Halifax Mooseheads?
Local sports commentator Mavs Gillis thinks Simon will be focused on things they can do to improve the fan experience.
“There will be a whole new breath of ideas and suggestions. I also think what you’re going to see out of this new ownership group, will be them delegating the hockey operations decisions to the hockey folks,” said Gillis.
He believes Simon will have strong partnerships with the extremely loyal Mooseheads fans and the community.
Gillis also praised Smith, who he said helped established the foothold of the league in Atlantic Canada.
“He’s helped create an organization that’s the envy of teams across the CHL. He’s helped build future NHLers and future leaders in business,” he said.
Gillis believes Simon will help usher in a new era of hockey in the Maritimes.
Kevin Northrup is a reporter with CJLS in Yarmouth, a Huddle content partner.