Sale Talks Progress For Vernon Vipers:

This is posted on the Morning Star website:

BREAKING: Sale talks progress for Vernon Vipers

B.C. Hockey League franchise 

Kevin Mitchell

Aug. 31, 2018 

Sports

Talks are progressing in the sale of the Vernon Vipers.

After weeks of speculation, the B.C. Hockey League told The Morning Star a few minutes ago that new owners and the existing Vernon franchise owner are in negotiations.

The league says Vernon has identified a new owner and the BCHL is in the process of reviewing its franchise process.

The Morning Star reported Aug. 17 that rumours around Kal Tire Place had the Vipers being purchased by a group of out of town businessmen. The two men are believed to be owners of car dealerships and will retain the services of head coach/GM Mark Ferner, whose contract has expired with the team.

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The six-time national Junior A champion Vipers lost their longtime owner Duncan Wray in January when he died in his sleep, at age 68. Wray’s widow, Libby, assumed the ownership and governor’s role.

Duncan, an oral surgeon beloved by fans, coaches and players, bought the then Vernon Lakers in 1992 from Vernon businessman Mel Lis and two years later re-named them the Vipers.

The BCHL has not announced the date for its franchise meeting with the proposed new owners. Guesses on how much the Vipers will fetch range from $750,000 to $1 million.

The Vipers face the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in exhibition play tonight at the Shaw Centre. The teams meet Saturday, 6 p.m., at Kal Tire Place. Vernon opens the regular season Friday, Sept. 7 against the defending champion Wenatchee Wild.

This is posted on the 107.5 Beach Radio website:

BCHL Reviews Sale of Vernon Vipers

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon

Kate Bouey

August 31, 2018 

It appears the Vernon Vipers hockey club is about to get new owners.

“Where is stands right now is the current owners of the Vernon Vipers have identified a new ownership group and have brought them forward to the league and their application to become the new owners of the Vipers is under review right now by the BCHL,” Brent 

Mutis, the BC Hockey League’s communications director, told Beach Radio News Friday afternoon.

Mutis could not say if local people were involved in the purchase of the club or how long the review would take.

As far as the coaches are concerned, Mutis believes contracts for the staff are currently registered.

“If the ownership application is approved and the new group moves forward, it’ll be up to them to inherit those contracts and decide whether to honour them or not,” Mutis says. “As far as operation of the team on the ice, I don’t think anything changes in the short term. It would be a decision of the new ownership group, should they be approved, what they’re going to do with the current staff.”

Just a few weeks ago, the current owner Libby Wray denied she was selling the club.

Wray took over ownership of the team when her husband — Duncan — died in January.

Duncan Wray bought the team in 1992 when it was the Vernon Lakers, changing the name to Vipers in 1995.