Farhi shoots, scores! Lands California team

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY: The London real estate magnate is involved with a minor league expansion team in San Francisco

By Ryan Pyette and Jonathan Sher, The London Free Press

Last Updated: October 14, 2011 10:44pm

It's hard to believe a minor league hockey expansion franchise in California could trigger a ripple of interest in Southwestern Ontario.

But there are London fingerprints all over the San Francisco Bulls, and some belong to a real estate magnate who hopes his California foray will be a step toward buying an NHL franchise.

"In five to 10 years, I will look into an NHL team," Shmuel Farhi said Friday. "I would like an NHL franchise."

Farhi, shown at right, downtown London's biggest landlord, was one of two big backers of the Bulls who will join a league two rungs below the NHL next fall.

The other major backer is the wife of ex-London Knights assistant Pat Curcio. Pat Curcio will serve as the team's president, GM and head coach.

Ownership requires a $475,000 franchise fee and a $10,000 non-refundable application tag.

Farhi estimates the annual cost of running the club will be between $2.5 million and $3 million. He hopes his son Ben Farhi, now in business school, will cut his business teeth there.

The 20-team league is called the ECHL. It used to be called the East Coast Hockey League before its geography expanded.

"It's always been my dream to run my own hockey team," Curcio said from the Golden State.

The Bulls will play in the old Cow Palace, the 11,000-seat once home of the San Jose Sharks. Most teams are NHL affiliates, and Curcio wants that for the Sharks. He expects the roster will include some former Knights.

Curcio left the Knights in 2009, became an assistant with another ECHL team and returned to the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds last year.

The London group made a winning pitch for a San Francisco team to league owners.

It was, Curcio said, just as difficult to get Farhi to buy in.

"Shmuel loves hockey. He was involved with the old St. Thomas Wildcats (of the Colonial Hockey League), but he made sure we had our Is dotted and Ts crossed before he jumped on board. The league average attendance is (4,375) and if we can get 4,000, we'll be OK."

What if the Bulls, one day, decide to bolt the West Coast to a more hockey-friendly climate? Based on ownership, London would be a natural destination.

"You just can't pick up and leave a market," said league commissioner Brian McKenna, who used to be the Knights' Eastern Ontario scout.

"You need approval from the owners before a team can relocate. We're not looking at Canada and we're not looking (for more aggressive expansion). The economy is still tough right now."

When it comes to hockey at the John Labatt Centre, the Knights have first right of refusal.

Also owning a share of the team is former London talk show host Jim Chapman.