The BC Hockey League has purchased the West Kelowna Warriors

Photo: Wayne Moore/file

Kim Dobranski

The West Kelowna Warriors are under temporary new ownership.

The BC Hockey League has entered into an agreement to purchase the Warriors from embattled owner Kim Dobranski.

Dobranski tells Castanet News the sale is expected to be complete by the end of the month.

At the same time, the league will seek a new owner or group to permanently take over the franchise.

"When I rescued the team about two years ago, it was never my intent to be a long-term owner," Dobranski told Castanet.

"I wanted to be a stop-gap owner. My goal was to eventually have less and less of an interest in the team."

The Warriors have struggled out of the gate this season, attracting an average of about 500 fans per game. In order to break even, Dobranski said last month the club would need to average double that.

However, he says the poor attendance and other legal issues with his former business partner and former coach, were not the reason for the move at this time.

"These don't happen overnight," he said. "This opportunity came to me before the season even began."

"There have been some challenges with my ownership. If I had to do things over, I probably would have done some things differently, but I did what I had to do."

Dobranski said he achieved what he set out to achieve when he took over the team from previous owner Mark Cheyne, keeping the team in West Kelowna.

"Had I not stepped in, there would be no team. There would have been no hockey for two years.

"I hope people will understand I worked tirelessly to keep the team here. That's all that really matters."

Dobranski says he knows there are parties interested in buying the team.

That job now rests with the league.