The OHL's Plymouth Whalers are being sold and moved to Flint, Michigan.
Peter Karmanos Jr. has reached an agreement with IMS Hockey Corporation, that still requires OHL approval. IMS recently purchased the Perani Arena in Flint, which has a seating capacity of over 4,500. Today Karmanos confirmed that the Florida-based company with ties to Michigan has purchased the team as well.
Karmanos had publicly identified Chatham, Ontario as a possible landing spot for the team, but it lacks a Junior A sized arena. Reporter for MLive.com Aaron McMann was at the news conference this morning. He says Karmonos briefly touched on why Chatham was not chosen.
"His words were 'the city officials couldnt get their act together.' I pressed him on it, he just kept referring to the fact they couldn't get their act together," says McMann.
The deal could be finalized as early as February 2.