Johnstown, PA- The Johnstown Tomahawks, a member of the North American Hockey League, were purchased by Tomahawks Hockey Partners, LLC an investor group comprised of John Koufis, the majority investor of the group and local Johnstown investors including, Craig Saylor, William Polacek, John Polacek, Gary and Rose Poborsky, William Bahorik, Daniel Thompson, and Chris Martella.
“Johnstown has a significant and unique historical relevance in the game of hockey. The group looks forward to working with the current team staff and everyone in the community to keep the Johnstown Tomahawks a continued source of pride for the entire region and to help deliver a 1st class entertainment experience at the iconic 1st SUMMIT Arena at Cambria County War Memorial. Most importantly, the entire staff will continue to work diligently with our current and future players to help them achieve their hockey goals and provide them with a NAHL Juniors experience they will remember fondly.” said John Koufis, CEO and Governor of the new ownership group. “These kids are elite players that the entire community can proudly support and be a part of their journey to the next level – NCAA College and/or Professional.”
Craig Saylor (minority owner since 2018), President – Business Operations and Alternate Governor of the new ownership group said, “We are very excited to partner with John to grow our hockey legacy which is so important to our region. Many memories were made during the days of the Jets, Wings, Red Wings, and the Chiefs and we embrace the responsibility of creating new, quality experiences for our players, fans, and sponsors. Our commitment and excitement will be on display throughout the year”.
Understanding the longstanding history of hockey in Johnstown, Koufis added, “I also would like to recognize and say thank you to Jim and Rick Bouchard for their contributions in bringing hockey back to the region. Our entire group is honored to continue the journey they started back in 2012.”
The Tomahawks staff will hold a public press conference to officially announce the ownership changes later this month. The NAHL schedule for the 2023-24 season is also set to be released in the coming weeks. Full and half season ticket plans for the upcoming season are on sale now. Purchase by calling 814-536-4625 or by visiting the team office located inside 1ST SUMMIT Arena downtown Johnstown.