The Windsor Spitfires ownership group may be making some changes but the goal remains the same — win.
As you've heard on AM800 News, Spits are not being sold to a dentist from the GTA as was reported in April, but current owners, Cypher Systems Group (CSG) — John Savage, his brother Stephen Savage and Brian Schwab — will now take a controlling interest of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) club.
John Savage tells CTV Windsor they're ready to move forward.
"We believe we have a very strong team going into the 2019/2020 season, we've got the import draft coming up and there's a lot of work that Warren (Rychel) has to get done in the next little while and this is the time to get it done."
Speaking at the WFCU Centre in Windsor on Thursday, Bob Boughner says it wasn't the right time for a sale.
"It wasn't the right mix, it wasn't the right feel and this team is at a point in the next couple of years where we think we can take another stab at it and win."
Boughner — who was recently rehired by the San Jose Sharks of the NHL — believes the Spits will be a real contender in the next couple of years and says "We're letting the fans know that it's the same people involved and our plan to put the product on the ice, a great product, and provide that entertainment and hopefully we start winning some playoff rounds here."
The CSG owners — who also own the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Lakeshore Canadians of the Provincial Junior Hockey League — are not commenting on how much money changed hands or how much of a stake they are taking but do confirm that Boughner and GM Warren Rychel are still involved.