Saskatchewan Roughriders punter Jon Ryan, is the part-owner of a baseball team in Portland, Oregon and he may soon be part of a group that owns the Western Hockey League franchise in that city.
The Portland Winterhawks are up for sale after the team’s previous owner filed for bankruptcy and there is interest being shown by the group that bought the Portland Pickles in 2016. They are a collegiate wood-bat team that plays in a league (West Coast League) that is similar to the Western Canadian Baseball League.
Speaking from Los Angeles, Ryan says the Pacific Northwest and Portland have been good to his group so its an opportunity they want to explore.
“Playing in the Pacific Northwest with Seattle for a decade, I am drawn to that area of the country.” Ryan said. “I know what those people are like and how passionate they are for their sports so we think if everything goes right that it could be a win-win.”
Another member of the ownership group Ryan is a part of has stated they want to keep the Winterhawks in Portland because of the tradition they have established in the city.
