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Portland Winterhawks

Owner, Plan Introduced for Portland Winter Hawks

October 29, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland, Ore.-The Portland Winter Hawks and Western Hockey League today introduced the new owner, team management and coaching staff, who presented their plan for the future of the franchise. Fans, sponsors and corporate partners, staff and players attended today's reception at Buffalo Wild Wings in downtown Portland where new owner Bill Gallacher talked about his plans for the franchise.

"The Portland Winter Hawks organization has demonstrated its ability to fill Memorial Coliseum, inspire fans and the City of Portland with a spirit of civic pride, and to win the Memorial Cup," said Gallacher. "Our plan for the future is to do just that once again."

Gallacher's plan focused on restoring fans' confidence in the Winter Hawks by 1) developing a championship-caliber team capable of winning the Memorial Cup, 2) restoring the organization to profitability through strategic sponsorships and offering customers a top-notch entertainment product, 3) building community partnerships, and 4) renewing a spirit of excitement and hometown pride in the Portland Winter Hawks.

Gallacher also introduced new General Manager and Head Coach Mike Johnston; Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach Travis Green; and Athletic Trainer, Strength and Conditioning Coach Rich Campbell. Johnston has a proven track record as a highly successful coach at the NHL level, and Green comes to the Winter Hawks with a 15-year professional hockey career. Campbell most recently served as Athletic Trainer for the U.S. Olympic Committee in 2007-2008.

In addition to the management and coaching plans presented, Gallacher today announced the formation of a Winter Hawks Advisory Council to advise the organization on strategies to achieve the long-term goals for the franchise. Representatives of the Portland Winter Hawks, Vulcan Sports and Entertainment, alumni, city and community leaders will make up the group.

"We are setting forth aggressive goals and we recognize how critical working together with our community partners is to helping us get there," said Gallacher. "We will be reaching out to individuals in the coming weeks to ask for their participation in the Winter Hawks Advisory Council."

The 2008-2009 season marks the 33rd year the Winter Hawks have operated in Portland. One of Portland's premiere sport franchises, the Winter Hawks moved from Edmonton to Portland in 1976 and in doing so became the first U.S. based franchise in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Today, the Winter Hawks are one of the most decorated franchises in the history of the Canadian Hockey League with four Memorial Cup appearances; two Memorial Cup National Championships (1983, 1998); two Western Hockey League titles (1982, 1998) and a combined 22 championship banners. A total of 98 players have graduated from the Winter Hawks to the NHL including current and former NHL Stars Braydon Coburn, Adam Deadmarsh, Brandon Dubinsky, Paul Gaustad, Marian Hossa, Brenden Morrow, Cam Neely, and Glen Wesley.

For more information, ticket sales or sponsorship opportunities, visit the Portland Winter Hawks online at www.winterhawks.com or by phone at 503-238-6366.

Portland Winter Hawks Profiles

William M. Gallacher, Owner

} Current President and CEO of Avenir Diversified Income Trust

} Current President of Avenir Capital Corporation

} Avenir's core holdings have been built on a business model that includes a solid management team, a strategic business plan and the capital to execute the plan

} Involved with the start-up of a number of junior energy companies in Calgary and currently is a member of the board of directors for a number of private and publicly held companies

} Professional Engineer, University of British Columbia

Mike Johnston, General Manager & Head Coach

} Associate Coach of Los Angeles Kings, NHL (2006-2008)

} Associate Coach of Vancouver Canucks, NHL (1999-2006)

} General Manager & Coach of Team Canada (1998-1999)

} Assistant Coach of Team Canada - 2yr GM (1994-1998)

} Head Coach of University of New Brunswick (1989-1994)

} Head Coach of Camrose College (1984-1989)

Specialty:

} Two gold medals (1997 & 2007), one silver (1996) and one bronze (1995) at World Men's Championships

} Two gold medals (1994 & 1995) at World Junior Championships

} Three gold medals at Spengler Cup

} Co-authored "Simply the Best - Insights and Strategies from Great Hockey Coaches"

Travis Green, Assistant General Manager & Assistant Coach

} 15-year professional hockey career

} Swiss Elite League (2007-2008)

} NHL: NY Islanders, Phoenix, Toronto, Boston & Anaheim (1992 - 2007)

} WHL: Spokane and Medicine Hat (1986 - 1991)

} Gold Medal in the World Men's Championships (1997) and Silver Medal (1996)

Rich Campbell, Athletic Trainer, Strength & Conditioning Coach

} Athletic trainer of the US Olympic Committee in Beijing (2007/08)

} Head Athletic trainer of New York Islanders, NHL (1997-2006)

} Head Athletic trainer of Las Vegas Thunder, IHL (1993-1996)

Specialty:

} Certified National Athletic Trainers Association

} Certified by National Strength & Conditioning Association

} Considered #1 Athletic trainer by US Olympic Association

} Owns & operates his own facility in New York in off-season

} Outstanding performer in health care and physical conditioning

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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