Regina Pats Sold

The owner of the now-defunct Kelowna Spartans of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League has bought the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.

The WHL took over the Pats last week after rejecting a proposed sale to an Indian band near Regina. Russ Parker, president of Calgary-based Braken Holdings, said he had bought the team.

The Spartans suspended operations earlier this month after Edmonton businessman Gordon Oxley bought the Tacoma Rockets and moved the WHL operation to Kelowna. Spartan GM Brent Parker said then the team would have lost up to $200,000 if it had tried to share Kelowna’s Memorial Arena.