Darren Thompson has a “crazy dream” to buy the Toronto Maple Leafs — and he’s recruiting Canadians from coast to coast to help him make it a reality.
When he heard that the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan plans to sell its 66 per cent stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the 35-year-old Alberta man built a website to build community support.
Thompson grew up playing hockey on the pond near his New Brunswick home. He relocated to Leduc, Alta., just south of Edmonton, a decade ago.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to own a professional sports team, and being a good Canadian, that professional sports team should be a hockey team,” Thompson said. “I believe there’s enough people out there to truly and honestly do this.”
The plan is simple: Thompson would take a $1,000 investment from one million Canadians — and supporters have already pegged more than $1 million to the project.