Tuesday the NHL board of governors unanimously approved the relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The last month the Thrashers were sold to True North Sports and Entertainment a group based in Winnipeg who had the sole intention to move the team back to Canada.
“We are very honoured by the NHL board of governors’ unanimous decision today,” Mark Chipman, True North’s chairman of the board, said in a statement.
“We know that the fans of this province have an appetite for NHL hockey that is rivalled by few in the league and intend to work very hard to make Manitobans proud of our franchise for years to come.”
The emotions were a little different in Atlanta according to TSN.ca.
“It’s a sad day for hockey fans in Atlanta, but the franchise is going to a good place and run by good people,” Thrashers president Don Waddell said. “I wish them well, because a lot of good people that are going to go with them.”
True North reportedly bought the team for $170 million dollars with a $60 million dollar relocation fee that will be split by the rest of the owners. The Atlanta Thrashers are now the fifth team to relocate under Gary Bettman’s reign as commissioner.
Source: TSN.ca
