The clock is ticking to finalize a sale of the ECHL’s Trois Rivieres Lions, or operations for both them and the Newfoundland Growlers could come to a halt.
Deacon Sports and Entertainment, which owns both teams, has been working to sell the Trois Rivieres club to Leal Sports for the past few months.
It hasn’t been a smooth process, however, with financial issues coming to light. In particular, Deacon reportedly owes the City of Trois Rivieres more than a million dollars in arena rent.
A board of governors slapped an April 2 deadline to complete the sale or the season for both teams could be cut short.
The situation was a topic of discussion during Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast with Elliotte Friedman.
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He says operations for both teams will be suspended if the sale isn’t finalized by tomorrow, making all players unrestricted free agents. Those players will still be paid their full season salary. The good news, Friedman says, is that things could be worked out by the time next season rolls around.