((HT: Arizona Republic/Watters))A former employee of Jim Balsillie’s company is part of an investment group that intends to bid on the Coyotes in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
A coincidence is how representatives for Ice Edge Holdings, LLC described Anthony LeBlanc’s connection to the man who attempted to move the team to Canada.
Meanwhile, the group, which on Friday filed a letter of intent to bid up to $150 million for the Coyotes, also named John Breslow among its investors. The Las Vegas resident is a minority owner in the franchise and has served as chairman of Coyotes Charities.
Anthony LeBlanc would act as chief executive of the Coyotes if the group’s bid wins. The Ottawa, Canada resident is a former vice president of global sales for Research in Motion, the maker of Blackberry wireless.
Balsillie, the co-CEO of Research in Motion, rankled Phoenix hockey fans when he offered $212.5 million to purchase the bankrupt Coyotes and relocate the team to Hamilton, Ontario.
A bankruptcy judge set Balsillie's offer aside until it is determined if a buyer willing to keep the team in Glendale can be found. Ice Edge Holdings is among two investment groups to come forward.
Daryl Jones, who has been speaking on behalf of the group, previously told The Arizona Republic he never met Balsillie, but declined to name all of the investors in his group.
On Saturday, Jones confirmed LeBlanc as a partner and his connection to Balsillie after a Canadian news report surfaced. Jones said he wanted to downplay the connection because it in no way influenced his group's interest in the team.
"There's a reason we didn't want this to get out. We just don't think it's relevant to the story," Jones said.
The group’s known investors now include: LeBlanc, Breslow, Jones and Keith McCullough, who works with Jones at a Connecticut-based investment research firm, Research Edge. Coyotes coach and minority owner Wayne Gretzky and others also may become partners, Jones said.
Jones called LeBlanc’s nine-year employment at Research in Motion a "non-starter" and a "strange coincidence."
LeBlanc left the company less than a year ago, he said.
Balsillie's attorney Richard Rodier called it "entirely coincidental," as well. He said Balsillie's group has not communicated with LeBlanc on his efforts to acquire the team.
Jones said Ice Edge Holding's intent is "100 percent" to keep the team in Arizona for the long haul. "We would be having absolutely no plans to leave," Jones said.
He also discounted speculation by a Canadian radio show that the Coyotes could play some of their games in Hamilton. "This is a Phoenix franchise. This is not a Hamilton franchise," Jones said. An auction of the team is Aug. 5, but the deadline to submit bids was Friday.
Jones' group missed that deadline, saying they only began exploring the team's finances three weeks ago. The group did file its intent to bid, and Jones said a detailed offer should be in place by the auction.
The only completed bid for up to $148 million came from Glendale Hockey, LLC, which includes sports mogul Jerry Reinsdorf, Valley attorney John Kaites and former sports executive Tony Tavares.
((Jobing.com arena is pictured, thanks Carlos Chavez/Arizona Republic))
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