Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman and his family are set to become the new owners of the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Brantford Bulldogs, multiple sources have confirmed.
Current owner Michael Andlauer, who also owns the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and the AHL’s Belleville Senators, is selling the team after a decade of ownership.
The Bulldogs, who relocated from Hamilton to Brantford in 2023, are in their second season in the city.
The move came after disagreements between the Bulldogs and the City of Hamilton over renovations at FirstOntario Centre.
Brantford has embraced the team, which now plays at the Civic Centre, and is planning to build a $140-million Sports and Entertainment Centre slated to open in 2027.
Under Andlauer’s ownership, the Bulldogs claimed OHL championships in 2018 and 2022.
He originally purchased the franchise in 2015, when they were the Belleville Bulls, and later moved the team to Hamilton before its recent relocation to Brantford.
Zach Hyman, 32, hails from Toronto and previously played for the Hamilton Red Wings in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) before joining the University of Michigan’s hockey program. His father, Stuart Hyman, serves as chairman of the Markham Royals and the OJHL.
Pending approval by the OHL, the sale is expected to be finalized next week, with an announcement anticipated after Monday’s league meeting.
Hyman is currently in his 10th NHL season and his fourth with the Edmonton Oilers, where he has registered 13 goals and 11 assists in 36 games this season.
The Brantford Bulldogs are currently sixth in the OHL’s Eastern Conference with a 20-15-4 record.
The planned new arena, which will replace the Civic Centre as the Bulldogs’ home, is part of Brantford’s vision to revitalize its downtown core while enhancing its entertainment offerings.
