Hamilton Bulldogs owner and chairman Michael Andlauer announced today that he has purchased a share of the Montreal Canadiens, Bell Centre and Gillett Entertainment Group from George Gillett and Molson Coors.
Andlauer joins a partnership group headed by the Molson family, which also includes Bell, the Woodbridge Company Limited, the QFL Solidarity Fund and Luc Bertrand.
The sale of the Montreal Canadiens, Bell Centre and Gillett Entertainment Group is expected to be complete within the weeks to come, while the sale of the 24-time Stanley Cup champions is subject to approval by the National Hockey League.
“Having been a passionate Canadiens fan since the early 1970’s when I was a young child growing up in Montreal, this really is a dream come true for me and my family”, said Andlauer. “For the past seven seasons, I have had an opportunity to cut my teeth as the owner of a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League with the Hamilton Bulldogs and I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish both on and off the ice. Since 2002, the Bulldogs have competed in two Calder Cup Finals, captured the franchise’s first AHL championship and the City of Hamilton’s first professional hockey championship and developed a plethora of players for the Montreal Canadiens. Equally as important, I truly believe that our work in the community has had a positive impact in the City of Hamilton and on its citizens. Moving forward, I’m confident that me becoming an owner in Montreal will only strengthen what is already an outstanding relationship between the Canadiens and the Bulldogs.”
Andlauer added, “I would like to thank George Gillett for his outstanding contributions in continuing to build the unparalled history and tradition of the Montreal Canadiens and for his assistance in the completion of this deal. I would also like to thank Geoff Molson, the Molson Family and the other members of the partnership group. Along with my wife Lucie and children Mathew, Michael Jr. and Alexie, I can’t wait for the season to start so that we can cheer on the teams in both Montreal and Hamilton as the Canadiens commence their second century and quest for a 25th Stanley Cup championship and as the Bulldogs begin their 14th season and chase for a second Calder Cup championship.”
“These are solid partners who bring to the Club a stable foundation for the future”, said Geoff Molson, chairman and chief executive officer of the partnership group. “As head of the partnership group, I look forward to working with the Club’s existing management team as we embark in this exciting new challenge.”
Andlauer, 44, who joined the Hamilton Bulldogs’ ownership group in 2002 and became the hockey club’s majority owner and chairman in 2004, is founder and CEO of Andlauer Transportation Services (ATS). Born in France, Andlauer grew up in Montreal and spent a little time in Paris before attending the Business Program at York University, Toronto.
ATS, owned by the Andlauer Management Group Inc., was formed in 1991. ATS is a leading single source, full-service transportation solutions provider providing integrated trucking, courier, air freight and value added transportation and distribution services to major consumer companies in Canada. ATS provides a broad range of transportation services designed to deliver reliable, flexible, and cost-effective distribution services that fulfill its customers’ specific needs. ATS operates an expansive network of 23 facilities across Canada. Other companies of the group include Associated Logistics Solutions Inc., National Logistics Services Inc., and Concord Transportation Inc.
