What could Mooseheads' sale mean for Q?

Halifax Mooseheads

HALIFAX - In a surprising announcement made Tuesday morning, Halifax Mooseheads majority owner Bobby Smith announced he's sold his stake in the team to Michigan-based businessman Sam Simon.

Simon is the founder and chairman of Simon Group Holdings, a portfolio that includes Atlas Oil. He and his son Peter Simon, who will assist in operating the team, will remain based in Michigan. Peter will travel with the Mooseheads on their Quebec road trip this week, reports the Chronicle Herald.

Get to know the new majority owners of your Halifax Mooseheads in a recap of today's historic announcement for the franchise. #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/TAAX0pbglm

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) February 21, 2023

This could impact the entire QMJHL in a number of ways. 

• While financial terms were not disclosed, this deal sets some sort of ballpark range for what junior hockey teams are worth right now in this post-pandemic world.
• The Mooseheads are obviously quite influential and what they do moving forward will likely be followed by other teams.
• Having owners who are not closely connected to the league or region is quite interesting - and could provide some much needed fresh ideas and plans to junior hockey.
• It's fair to say that Bobby Smith was a powerful and influential owner in the QMJHL. He was also quite involved with the Mooseheads' on-ice product. Smith and commissioner Gilles Courteau departing will be quite a change for the league.

It was all smiles at Tuesday's press conference, but plenty of fans have voiced some worries about what the future could bring.

This appears to be the first major acquisition in the Simons' sports portfolio. At the press conference, it was noted that Sam Simon looked into buying the NBA's Detroit Pistons in the past, which gives some indication of his wealth. What else could they be acquiring in the future and will that have an impact on the Mooseheads at all? Plus, if the Simons are in this for the long haul, they'll likely be involved in the conversation that everybody is dreading over the next couple decades: Halifax is going to need a new arena.

Of note, a report from The Hockey News last year included Simon as a founding member of the West Coast Junior Hockey League, essentially a more western version of the USHL.

Something else to consider: is this the beginning of an avalanche of teams trading hands? It was discussed at great lengths during COVID that we could see quite a bit of selling and buying when things returned to a more normal state. That hasn't really happened - but maybe the Mooseheads have kick started something.

Will MacLaren and I discussed the sale of the Mooseheads and much more on this week's episode of The Hockey News on the Q podcast.

The @HFXMooseheads have a new majority owner. @willmacwriter and @station_nation break that down along with the @QMJHL playoff race, #Yotes prospects and more: https://t.co/Y8oGGNrEEL

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) February 22, 2023