Daily Pulse

Celine’s Hockey Ambition

Can you imagine Celine Dion as a pro hockey team owner?

After all, Dion is known more for million-selling records and belting out hits from a Vegas-styled stage than talking about Stanley Cups and penalty boxes. On the other hand she does hail from Quebec, meaning a love of hockey is probably embedded in her DNA.

Photo: Jason Moore
RBC Center, Raleigh, N.C.

Dion is part of a group including Seagram heir Stephen Bronfman and Quebecor Inc. head Pierre Karl Péladeau that is seeking to buy the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, according to the Globe and Mail.

Canadiens majority owner George Gillett purchased the team nine years ago for $185 million (U.S.). Gillett is in a second round of bidding for the team.

Apparently the group is planning more than just sitting in private boxes watching body slams and hat tricks. The trio is considering establishing a pay-TV channel that would carry the team’s games as well as other hockey-related programming.

As to how active an owner Dion would be, well, that’s a question probably best left for another day. Whether the singer would be a silent owner working in the background, or a take-charge leader involved with every facet of the team has yet to be determined. If Dion sees the acquisition as an investment, she might be content looking at balance sheets and revenue reports.

But then, maybe she just wants to drive the Zamboni.

Please click here for the Globe and Mail’s report.

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