Sudbury businessman presses for new arena.

• Position: NEWS

BY NORTHERN ONTARIO BUSINESS STAFF

A Sudbury developer her-aided a "new era" for his hometown's Ontario Hockey League (OHL) franchise.

"Our objective moving forward is clear," said Dario Zulich, the new owner of the Sudbury Wolves. "The Wolves organization will become a model OHL franchise and a preferred destination for aspiring young hockey players.

"We want our players to learn the game, improve their skills, develop as young men and become outstanding members of our community. I can't wait to get started. We are eager for a new era of Wolves hockey."

Zulich is the CEO of TESC, a heavy industrial contracting firm, and is a partner in Zulich Enterprises. He's also fronting an arena proposal, the True North Strong Event Centre, of which the Wolves would be the main tenant.

The league's board of governors approved the sale and transfer of ownership from the Burgess and Edwards families to Zulich on Aug. 18. The sale price was reportedly in the $11 million range.

The Wolves have been a member of the OHL since 1972. The late Ken Burgess purchased the franchise in 1986.

Zulich and two partners have proposed a public-private partnership project known locally as True North Strong to develop a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose, world-class event centre in Greater Sudbury.

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Zulich also recently purchased the landmark Sudbury water tower in the city's downtown with the intent to preserve and further develop it.

Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger told Sudbury.com that a request for proposals (RFP) to build a new arena and events centre in the city could be ready by March, a few months earlier than originally planned.

The city has approved as much as $275,000 to hire a consulting firm to first help develop the criteria for the RFR as well as to finalize the document.

"We're making a decision that will have an impact...