Kamloops Storm have been sold by Barry Dewar to the Parallel Storm Hockey Group (Image Credit: Kamloops Storm)

By Chad Klassen

OWNERSHIP CHANGE

Kamloops Storm sold to new ownership group; Dewar says suspension was ‘last straw’

Jul 8, 2019 | 1:50 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Storm are under new ownership. The Parallel Storm Hockey Group has bought the team from now former owner Barry Dewar, who had been in charge of the Storm for 18 years.

The team announced the sale on Monday with Tracy Mero assuming full ownership. Matt Kolle assumes a role as the Governor and general manager.

“The process started two years ago where Barry provided the opportunity for Tracy to get involved with the team as a partner,” said Kolle. “I guess at the time, we put a sales agreement together that was based over time, a few years, for the full purchase of the team.”

Dewar had been trying to sell the team for a couple years. He worked on a deal with Mero and Kolle, who have been interested in taking over the team.

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“I’m happy. It was time,” said Dewar, calling from Osoyoos where he ran the team before moving the Storm to Kamloops in 2006. “I think it’s one of those things where people don’t listen after a while, and a new voice and a new direction is probably a good thing. So I’m happy for it.”

Dewar says the final nail in the coffin was his suspension for all of last season by the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. Dewar was accused of tampering and the suspension was upheld by BC Hockey.

“That was sort of the final straw for me, the suspension. It bugged me. It still bugs me today, and what’s the point,” exclaimed Dewar.

Kolle added, “It seemed right to expedite things. [Dewar] wasn’t really involved, so we thought let’s expedite the sale. Let’s get the sale over with.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Parallel Storm Hockey Group. Kolle feels his roles as assistant general manager, and then last year as the full-time GM with Dewar’s suspension, will make the transition smooth.

“I think Barry was really grooming me,” he said. “Last year, with everything that went down, it was all thrown into my lap. I feel I’ve been groomed the whole way through. It should be an easy transition.”

The next step for the team is finding a new head coach. New father Jassi Sangha, a rookie head coach last year, will stay on as an assistant coach.

Kolle says the team will put a committee together with himself, Sangha, Steve Gainey, Andrew Fisher and Cody Lockwood to pick the next bench boss. Kolle says it will likely be internal.

“We all get along very well. We all work together very well.”

The Dewars plan to stay on with the Storm as volunteers. Barry will continue to help with the transition.