Darin Pastor To Lead Investor Group Seeking To Purchase NHL's Phoenix Coyotes

IRVINE, Calif., March 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Darin Pastor, founder and CEO of Capstone Affluent Strategies, has formed an exploratory committee of seasoned investment bankers and other related sports entertainment advisors in an effort to acquire the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130329/LA85663)

Pastor has reached out to Mike Nealy, President, Chief Operating Officer, and Alternate Governor of the Coyotes, directly to express interest in purchasing the team.

"Hockey is in my DNA," Pastor said. "My family has enjoyed a love affair with the sport for over three generations. When we saw the prospect to get involved with the NHL and purchase the Coyotes, it was like a dream come true."

A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Pastor has been around the sport of hockey for his entire life. In 1956, his grandfather and great-uncles bought the Buffalo Bison Hockey Club when the previous owner threatened to move the team, and under their guidance, the Bisons improved dramatically, winning the Calder Cup in 1960, 1964, and 1970. Buffalo's roster featured many future NHL stars and quickly became one of the hottest tickets in the league, with an average attendance of over 10,500 per game.  The Pastor family sold the Bisons in 1971 shortly after the franchise joined the NHL as the expansion Buffalo Sabres.

"If we have an opportunity to acquire the franchise, we will do everything we can to make sure it stays in the great city of Glendale and continues to enhance the Phoenix metropolitan area."

If approved by the league's Board of Governors, Pastor's group would have controlling interest of the team and seek to keep the franchise in Glendale. 

The Coyotes have been run by the NHL the past three seasons, since the team went into bankruptcy in 2009 under former owner Jerry Moyes. Despite their financial issues, the Coyotes have remained competitive on the ice, reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs each of the past three seasons and advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history in 2012.

Capstone Affluent Strategies, a wealth management firm located in Irvine, Calif., has an office in Phoenix as well as 11 other cities and maintains a principle of supporting communities that serve its clients.

About the Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are one of 30 teams that play in the National Hockey League. The Coyotes are based in Glendale, Arizona and play their home games at Jobing.com Arena. The Coyotes have qualified for the playoffs for the past three years and in 2011-12, the team won the Pacific Division title and reached the Western Conference Final for the first time in franchise history. On the ice, the Coyotes are led by Captain Shane Doan, goaltender Mike Smith and standout defensemen Keith Yandle and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Off the ice, the club is a model of consistency under the guidance of President & COO Mike Nealy, General Manager Don Maloney (2009-10 GM of the Year), and Head Coach Dave Tippett (2009-10 Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL's top coach). For more information, please visit www.PhoenixCoyotes.com.

SOURCE Darin Pastor