OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs sold to Zach Hyman and family

The Brantford Bulldogs team bus is seen parked outside the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in this file photo taken on September 1, 2024. (Shelby Knox/CTV News)

It’s official – the Brantford bulldogs have been sold.

Bulldogs Ventures Incorporated announced that the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Board of Directors has approved the purchase of the Brantford Bulldogs by a group led by NHL star Zach Hyman.

Effective Jan. 16, Hyman will officially assume control of the organization’s operations, ushering in a new chapter for the beloved hockey team.

A TSN hockey insider first reported the sale last Friday.

In a statement Monday, Hyman expressed his excitement about the opportunity to lead the Bulldogs.

“The Brantford Bulldogs Hockey Club is an amazing organization, from the players, to the staff, to the most passionate fanbase in the OHL. My family and I are thrilled to officially be a part of the Bulldogs family and the Brantford community,” Hyman said.

He also thanked outgoing owner Michael Andlauer for entrusting him with the franchise and added: “We know what the Bulldogs mean to you, and we take this privilege of being new leaders of the Bulldogs to heart…GO DOGS!”

Hyman played for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015 to 2021. After that, he signed a deal with the Oilers.

Michael Andlauer, who owns the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and, bought the Bulldogs in 2015 when they were known as the Belleville Bulls, reflected on the decision to sell the team.

“I want to congratulate Zach Hyman and his family on the purchase of the Brantford Bulldogs. The passion they have portrayed to me in owning an OHL franchise…is the major reason for my decision to sell the Club. I want our fans and community to know that I would not sell the team unless I felt certain it was in good hands,” Andlauer said.

Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis also extended his gratitude to Andlauer and welcomed the Hyman family to the city.

“We deeply appreciate the dedication and passion Michael has consistently shown for our community…I am also very excited to warmly welcome Zach and the entire Hyman family to Brantford. We very much look forward to supporting them in every way we can to build on the successes of the Brantford Bulldogs and carry on the tradition of showcasing exceptional hockey in our city,” he said.

To celebrate this new era, a press conference will be held on Jan. 15 at the Hampton by Hilton in Brantford. The event will coincide with the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game.

Representatives from the Hyman family, Michael Andlauer, OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford, and Mayor Kevin Davis will be in attendance and will discuss next steps for the team.

The conference will begin at 4 p.m.

Last fall, the City of Brantford’s special committee of the whole approved the development of a new $140 million arena for the Bulldogs.