Vancouver Giants Majority Owner Ron Toigo, along with co-owners Sultan Thiara, Pat Quinn, and Gordie Howe, are pleased to welcome international recording star and Burnaby native, Michael Bublé to the Giants ownership group.
Speaking for the ownership group, Toigo says, “Having someone of Michael’s stature get involved at the ownership level is a real statement on the strength of the Vancouver Giants brand, and that of the Western Hockey League as a whole. We’re very excited to welcome Michael to the organization, and look forward to having his energy and enthusiasm in the Giants family.”
Bublé adds “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful team, management and ownership – a group of winners!”
The Vancouver Giants next home game will be Sunday, December 14 versus the Prince George Cougars at 5:00pm. It will be “Jersey Off Our Backs Night”, which will see random winners chosen from the crowd to receive a game-worn jersey, right off the backs of the players. In addition, the Giants will be giving away special edition Pat Quinn, Gordie Howe, and Michael Bublé jerseys.
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The Vancouver Giants are a member of the 22-team Western Hockey League (WHL), and after beginning play in 2001 are now in their eighth season of competition. In their short history, the Giants have already captured a WHL Championship in 2006, a Memorial Cup (National) Championship in 2007, and are currently off to a team-record start to the 2008/09 season, with a 25-2-0-3 record. The WHL showcases many of the best junior-aged hockey players in the world, and is a leading supplier of talent to the National Hockey League (NHL).
Ron Toigo is Majority Owner, Governor and President of the Vancouver Giants. He is also Co-Managing Director of Shato Holdings, whose enterprises include White Spot Restaurants, the Delta Town & Country Inn, and the Tsawwassen Golf & Country Club. Ron has also served as Chairman of the Organizing Committees for both the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships and the 2007 Memorial Cup Tournament.
Michael Bublé is a Grammy and Juno Award Winning singer and entertainer, and a proud product of Burnaby, BC. His collective works have garnered worldwide sales of more than 15 million records, with his third album, Call Me Irresponsible, reaching #1 on the Billboard Top 200.
Sultan Thiara, FCA, is Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Shato Holdings. An active member of the community, Sultan has served on the Board of Directors for both the BC Sports Hall of Fame, and BC Childrens’ Hospital.
Pat Quinn is a former player, coach and general manger in the National Hockey League. He was twice named NHL Coach of the Year, and has guided Canada’s National Men’s Team to Gold Medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. He is currently the Head Coach of Canada’s National Junior Team, who will compete in the IIHF World Junior Championships in Ottawa later this month.
Gordie Howe, affectionately known as “Mr. Hockey”, is considered by many to be the greatest all-around player in hockey history. His professional playing career spanned an incredible 32 seasons over 6 decades, and when he retired from the sport he held more records than any athlete in history. Gordie is a four-time Stanley Cup Champion, and remains one of the game’s greatest ambassadors.