Sports Gilbert Rousseau, which operates five hockey superstores around Montreal, has formed an investment group with a goal of expanding the concept across Canada. The “category killer” hockey specialty retail chain will operate under the banners of “Pro Hockey Life” across Canada
and “Rousseau Sports” within Quebec.
Sports Gilbert Rousseau teamed up with a group of private equity investors led by Champlain Financial Corp., in partnership with the company's senior management, as well as with Jack Steckel, a founding member of Golf Town and
Capital Canada Limited, an independent investment banking firm.
Building on Sports Gilbert Rousseau's success in the Montreal area, the company, to be renamed Pro Hockey Life
Sporting Goods Inc., will launch its Canadian expansion with its Vaughan Mills mega store, which the company believe will be the largest concept of its kind in the world and has already committed to locations under construction in the
Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal areas, which are all scheduled to open within the next 12 months.
“We are extremely proud of our partnership with Champlain Financial Corporation and Capital Canada who both share my passion and vision of building a hockey retailing powerhouse from coast to coast. The depth of our new partners' financial and industry networks will be instrumental to making this a great Canadian success story” says the company's founder Gilbert Rousseau.
Rousseau, who will retain a significant equity stake in the company, will remain as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Rousseau will be supported by the addition of two seasoned executives, Scott Jackson and Keith Hunt who will join Pro Hockey Life to oversee the deployment of the
company's cross-Canada roll out.
Jackson, who most recently led strategic and operational enhancement programs for large retailers while with the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, will assume the role of Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer and will be based in the company's Laval, Quebec head office. Mr. Hunt, who played a significant role in the rapid national expansion of Chapters Inc. and more recently, as Vice-President Operations of Forzani Group Ltd.'s Sport Mart banner, will be relocating from Calgary to
Toronto, as Senior Vice President focusing on the Company's expansion outside of Quebec.
Sports Gilbert Rousseau was founded over 30 years ago and currently operates a five store network in and around Montreal, Quebec. The company focuses on providing products and services to hockey players of all abilities, including high-end equipment for the discerning player. Sports Gilbert Rousseau's strategy has been to offer the largest
selection of brand name equipment, accessories and apparel with superior sales assistance in a high energy store environment.
