FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CHIEFS NAME NEW V.P./GENERAL MANAGER
September 30, 2008
Contact Ray Schmitt for more information
814-539-1799 x 226
ray@johnstownchiefs.com
Johnstown, Pa. – The Johnstown Chiefs, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets, and the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters and Syracuse Crunch, announced today the hiring of Bill Bredin as the team’s new vice president and general manager. The announcement was made this afternoon at a press conference held at the Cambria County War Memorial.
“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to join the Chiefs organization and the Johnstown community. Considering the Chiefs brand is the most recognizable in minor league sports, fostering that into the future is a dream come true. I look forward to implementing our long-term vision of economic viability through enhanced community involvement, improved corporate relationships, and providing the ultimate family entertainment esperience to our community,” said Bredin.
“As a former ECHL on-ice official, I always looked forward to working in Johnstown where the passion of the fans was unmatched. Now, I’m thrilled, along with my family, to make Johnstown my home and become a member of the community for the long haul,” said Bredin.
Bredin (Bray-den) comes to Johnstown with a wealth of experience working in hockey both on and off the ice. He spent over six years - from 1998 to 2004 – serving as Manager of Scheduling and Operations for the National Hockey League’s front office. Additionally he researched market trends and created strategies to increase attendance and TV ratings. In October of 1996, Bredin got his start in the hockey business as a team operations intern with the New York Rangers.
His work with the NHL led Bredin to Grand Forks, North Dakota where he worked as the Deputy Commissioner of the United States Hockey League, the premiere tier-one junior hockey league in North America. In addition to presiding over league-wide business affairs, he chaired the League Agreements and Team Marketing Committees, helping the league to achieve record single season gate receipts and attendance figures.
Chiefs fans may recognize Bredin from his days as an ECHL linesman between 1997-98 and 2004. His officiating experience also includes being selected to work the 2008 ECAC Championships and the NCAA Western Regional Final.
In his most recent position, Bredin handled broadcast operations for the NFL Network in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
The search for the new Chiefs’ V.P. / GM was led over the summer by members of Roustan United Arena Solutions Team, a rink manufacturing and management business based here in Johnstown.
“We look forward to continuing our work with the county and business community to establish continuity and a viable long-term sustainable economic model to ensure the Chiefs are part of the community indefinitely,” said Roustan United Arena Solutions Team President and CEO, and Chiefs President, Scott Branovan.
“The selection of the new V.P. /GM was critical to the future of the team. We conducted an exhaustive search for a new leader that has passion for hockey, and the hockey business, as well as an understaning of, and respect for, the Chiefs brand and what it means to this community and minor league hockey,” added Branovan.
Branovan is more than confident that the right man for the job is in place, and that the Chiefs’ partnership with Roustan will continue to be a beneficial one.
"Bill Bredin is a hockey player, a hockey coach, a hockey official and has extensive hockey executive experience with the NHL, the USHL, and the Atlantic and Metropolitan Junior Hockey Leagues along with his most recent experience with the NFL Network. Bill Bredin is uniquely qualified to take one of the most recognizable brands in minor league sports....THE JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS... into the future."
“Roustan United’s worldwide business as an arena facility construction supplier is headquartered right here in Johnstown, PA. As a member of the Cambria County business community, and a company that is in the center of the hockey business it makes sense for us to be a part of the solution with other members of the business community and Cambria County and work on strategies that will provide for a sustainable economic model for the Johnstown Chiefs so this historic club can provide family entertainment to this community for many years to come,” said Branovan.
About Roustan United:
The Roustan United Arena Solutions Team, an original equipment manufacturer of ice and inline arenas, incorporates an extensive portfolio of divisions, and a team of representatives, dedicated to supporting the arena facility industry with products, service, and support to new and current rink owners and operators worldwide, with one call. Roustan United Arena Solutions is wholly owned by W. Graeme Roustan's parent company, ROUSTAN INC. www.roustanunited.com.
About W. Graeme Roustan - ROUSTAN INC:
W. Graeme Roustan, part owner and Chairman of Nike Bauer Hockey, is a native of Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he grew up playing hockey from the age of three. Through his wholly owned holding company ROUSTAN INC., Roustan places equity investments in the arena and ice hockey industry. His extensive portfolio includes Nike Bauer Hockey, Mission-ITECH which was recently acquired by Bauer Hockey, Roustan United Arena Solutions, and his various ice rink facilities of which he owns and operates. With his network and long-term relationships in the field of ice sports and ice entertainment, and his proven business acumen, Roustan continues his vision of vertical integration of the arena marketplace worldwide. www.roustan.com.
About the Johnstown Chiefs:
The Johnstown Chiefs are the only original remaining ECHL member, having been in the league since its inception in 1988. They are led by second-year head coach Ian Herbers who directed the team to a 36-30-3-3 record, and a playoff series win over the Dayton Bombers, in his first year last season. Herbers’ 36 wins were the most ever by a first-year Chiefs coach. The Chiefs play their home games in the historic Cambria County War Memorial which has hosted hockey in Johnstown since the Johnstown Jets in 1950.
Mark your calendars! The Chiefs open their 2008-09 home schedule on Saturday, October 18 at 7:05 against the Wheeling Nailers, and you won’t want to miss a minute of the action. Season tickets, and other great packages, are available now. We have the right ticket for everyone, so be sure to get yours today by calling 814-539-1799 or 1-800-SLAPSHOT.
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