Music: {allcanada} Tentative deal reached

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

{allcanada} Tentative deal reached

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -- Former premier Danny Williams said he inked a tentative agreement Wednesday to bring the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose to Newfoundland.

Williams said a tentative deal has been reached with True North Sports and Entertainment to move the Moose from Winnipeg to St. John's.

"I'm just delighted to say that we pulled it off," said Williams, a strong supporter of the bid and longtime hockey fan.

"It's not only a great thing for the province, it's also a business proposition for me and I'm going to do everything I can to make the numbers work."

A spokesman for the AHL said a deal would require the approval of the league's board of governors.

Jason Chaimovitch also said no request for a meeting to approve a deal to move the Moose has been made.

Professional hockey has failed in St. John's before. The St. John's Maple Leafs, a farm team for the Toronto Maple Leafs, left the city in 2005.

But Williams said he was confident a team would survive now.

"This is a great hockey province," he said. "Hockey fans are very keen in Newfoundland and Labrador. I think it will work. We're also dealing with a first-class organization."

.Williams's announcement comes days after the provincial government he once led rejected a request for an annual $500,000 subsidy for the team -- a decision he said should have been a "no-brainer" because of the economic spinoffs a pro hockey franchise would reap.