By Ian Holmes

New captain of the ship: Deal reached to sell Nanaimo Buccaneers

Jan 5, 2018 | 4:31 PM

NANAIMO — A man with a lifetime love of hockey is buying the Nanaimo Buccaneers.

Clayton Robinson, 34, has agreed to purchase the VIJHL team from Phil and Brenda Levesque, who founded the team in 2012.

Robinson, who is the head coach of the Chilliwack Midget AAA hockey team, got wind the Levesques were looking to sell from a Buccaneers’ scout.

“This was the best opportunity for me. I’ve been a hockey guy my whole life, it’s my passion and I wanted to involve myself with something that works,” Robinson told NanaimoNewsNOW in an exclusive interview. “Phil and Brenda have done a great job here, it was really a no-brainer.”

Robinson said he’s worked in management in the manufacturing industry for several years and has multiple real estate investments. His Chilliwack house is for sale and he plans to relocate to Nanaimo this spring.

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He doesn’t foresee many changes to an organization he described as “extremely well-run.” Robinson hoped head coach and GM Curtis Toneff would remain with the organization beyond this season.

Robinson said he’ll lean on his coaching background to assist in terms of recruiting and will also be a regular fixture at the Nanaimo Ice Centre and be visible more broadly in the harbour city.

“I’ll be here (Nanaimo Ice Centre) all the time, you need to be involved in the community not only with hockey but also in the community and let people know who you are and support Nanaimo. That’s what will make a junior hockey franchise successful.”

Robinson supported having a roster with a strong contingent of local players and a mix of ages in order to advance players to higher levels, while also competing.

The Buccaneers have flourished into one of the VIJHL’s model franchises after the Levesques founded the team as an expansion organization ahead of the 2012/13 season. The Bucs have an all-time regular season record of 154-97-19-13 in five-and-a-half seasons. The Bucs typically draw more than 300 fans for home games at the ‘Pirate Ship’, which is above VIJHL standards.

Co-owner Brenda said she and her husband have mixed feelings about selling the club. She said the organization has been taken as far as possible under their watch and it’s time for fresh blood to take over, while giving them much-needed free time.

“We’re in our mid-60s, if we’re going to travel and do some things and enjoy life we better do that in the next 10 years before we get too old,” she said.

Phil said it was important for himself and Brenda to transition the organization into the right hands to ensure the Bucs remain strong in Nanaimo. He said Robinson is the right man to usher in a new era of Buccaneers hockey.

“He brings youth to hockey and that’s what we need,” Levesque said. “It’s all fun and games to have old Grandpa Phil around, but it gets old after a while,” he chuckled.

The sale is expected to be made official at a league meeting in Campbell River on Sunday.

Robinson is slated to officially take over the team on May 1, after what the Levesques hope is the Buccaneers first VIJHL championship and Cyclone Taylor Cup appearance.

News of the Buccaneers changing hands comes less than two months after the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers were sold by its longtime majority owner.

ian@Nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes