The husband-wife owners of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Bills have acquired another local sports team. Terry and Kim Pegula announced Thursday they have purchased the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women’s Hockey League.
The Pegulas say the purchase furthers their commitment to advancing the game of hockey on all levels, since purchasing the Sabres in 2011 and opening HarborCenter in 2014.
“We want to contribute to the growth of women’s hockey,” Kim Pegula said, in a statement. “HarborCenter has allowed us to make a positive impact on the game at the amateur, high school and collegiate levels, and we believe this is the perfect time to expand our reach to include women’s professional hockey through the NWHL. This sport provides outstanding opportunities and we are committed to helping extend those opportunities to females of all ages.”
The Beauts are an original NWHL team, created along with the league itself in 2015. The team includes several Olympians, including Getzville native Emily Pfalzer, Team USA captain Meghan Duggan, standout defender Megan Bozek and goaltender Brianne McLaughlin.
Last season, the Beauts upset the Boston Pride to win the 2017 Isobel Cup. They currently sit at 3-4, second in the four-team NWHL, which also includes the Connecticut Whale and Metropolitan Riveters.
“This extraordinary commitment from Kim and Terry Pegula – a complete acquisition of one of our Founding Four teams by NHL owners – is a landmark moment for the NWHL, our players and fans, and women’s hockey,” said NWHL Founder and Commissioner Dani Rylan. “We thank Kim and Terry for believing in the Beauts and in the mission of our league to fuel the continued growth of our sport around the world. Supporters of women’s hockey should take enormous pride in this significant step for our game.”
Along with the Sabres and Bills, the Pegula Sports and Entertainment family includes the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team and the Sabres' minor league affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
The Pegulas will become the first independent owners of an NWHL team. Until now, all four clubs were operated by the league. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
