New Ownership Group Ready To Help Aces Take Full Flight

January 24, 2005 - SPHL (SPHL)
Asheville Aces News Release


[ASHEVILLE, NC] 1/23/05 - The Asheville Aces, proud members of the Southern Professional Hockey League, are proud to announce that they are officially under new ownership. The sale of the team from previous owner, David Waronker, to the new ownership group was finalized in Asheville on Saturday, January 22, 2005.

Taking over ownership of the Aces is a group of investors, including local Managing Partner, Dr. Richard Hoodenpyle. "Dr. H" as he is affectionately known, is joined in ownership by Bill Stewart, Wendell Young, Charlie Davis, Steve Stark, and Aces Head Coach/General Manager Jeff Brubaker. Several members of the ownership group, who are based out of Colorado, have had great success in previous ownership ventures in minor professional sports.

Stewart, a former NHL player, owned parts of the Fayetteville Fury of the Central Hockey League, as well as one of the most successful expansion franchises in sport, the Colorado Eagles - also of the CHL. The Eagles, since opening night in 2003, have had a streak of over 50 consecutive sellouts with crowds of 5,000 plus. Young, who also is a former NHL player, has been on two Stanley Cup winners, played for four different NHL teams as well as numerous AHL and IHL squads. Charlie Davis owns an oil and gas company in Denver, Colorado. Steve Stark is a Chicago-based businessman who has had great success with the Fayetteville Fury as well as being a key player in bringing the Fayetteville Fire Antz into existence. He will be actively involved in the Sales and Marketing side of the Aces front office.

With local ownership, the Aces now have a hands-on ownership presence. Dr. Hoodenpyle has assured hockey fans in Asheville that the team is here to stay and that this ownership group is committed to doing whatever it takes to put a winning product on and off the ice. He has also indicated that the group has great confidence in Coach Brubaker and that he will be with the team as Head Coach and General Manager for the long-term.

At Saturday night's game versus the Winston-Salem Polar Twins, former owner David Waronker was presented with an Aces jersey as a thank you for bringing hockey back to Asheville. Waronker, who also owns the Florida Seals (scheduled to join the SPHL for the 2005-2006 season), presented Dr. H with a Florida Seals jersey. Both jerseys were auctioned off at the game and the proceeds (which were matched by both Hoodenpyle and Waronker) were donated to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.



SPHL Stories from January 24, 2005


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