The OHL has given the green light for the Barrie Colts to be sold to John Careri, a businessman and sports executive from Toronto.
Careri, who owns the Jr. A OJHL Toronto Patriots and serves as CEO of Jonvic Sports, has taken over ownership of the Ontario Hockey League team from Howie Campbell, who has been at the helm since 2006.
In a statement, OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford expressed his excitement about welcoming Careri as the new owner of the Colts organization.
I’m pleased to welcome John Careri as owner of the Barrie Colts. He brings a passion and enthusiasm for the game and I know he’s eager to continue the tradition of competitiveness that the Barrie Colts have enjoyed for more than 30 years. John’s proven business leadership, commitment to developing student-athletes and passion for building strong organizations should benefit not only the Barrie Colts, but the League as a whole.
– Bryan Crawford
The financial specifics surrounding this sale weren’t disclosed. Campbell will remain involved with the Colts organization as a partial shareholder, holding onto 10% of the club during this transition period.
Campbell described handing ownership over to Careri as a “hard decision,” but praised him as a “very successful and seasoned entrepreneur and businessman.”
It was a very hard decision for me and my family, but after 21 seasons I feel like the time is right to take a step back, spend more time with them, while ensuring that the future of the team and the company is in good hands. Mr. Careri is a very successful and seasoned entrepreneur and businessman who shares my passion for hockey and for bringing a championship to the City of Barrie. It’s bittersweet. But I will still be involved, so it’s not like I am just walking out the door. I’m committed to working with John to hoist a Memorial Cup with the Barrie Colts.
– Howie Campbell
As he spoke about Barrie, new owner Careri referred to the Colts as having “a proud history, a passionate fan base, and deep roots in the community,” noting that Campbell had “built something incredibly special here.”
Additionally, Careri mentioned his aim is focused on being “long-term owners” while investing in growing the organization in upcoming seasons.
Our objective is to give this organization every opportunity to compete for championships while continuing to elevate the entire fan experience – from hockey on ice to concessions, retail, and hospitality in our venue. We are approaching this as long-term owners. We intend to respect history and identity of barring honor while continuing our investment in their success moving forward.
– John Careri
The Barrie Colts finished first in OHL’s Central Division during last season with an impressive record of 45-14-5-4 but ultimately fell short against Kitchener Rangers in finals.
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