BLOOMINGTON - Family is the best word to describe members of the new ownership group, who initially invested in the Bloomington PrairieThunder earlier this year.

Bloomington-Normal lawyer Tim Leighton came forward as the “lead owner” of the PrairieThunder when Muskegon businessman Tony Lisman sold the team, stating it was in the best interest of the International Hockey League franchise to have local ownership.

At the time, other members of the initial owners group were not identified for various reasons and circumstances. Those members include a pair of husbands and wives; a set of brothers and a retired millwright.

Paul and Donna Wampler of Nomal; John and Paula Hardy of Bloomington; Nick Hozian of Normal and brother, Anthony of Riverside, Conn., along with John Gahm of Saunemin comprise the initial ownership group.

All were drawn to the team because of their love of hockey and desire to help the PrairieThunder, U.S. Cellular Coliseum and the Pepsi Ice Center to be successful.



















“Our entire family loves hockey and we wanted the opportunity to directly support the team,” said Paul Wampler, a 40-year employee of State Farm Insurance who now serves as a program manager.

Wampler’s wife, Donna, added that “we want to support having hockey in our community,” said Donna, a 34-year employee of State Farm Insurance, who works as a finance manager. “The best way to do that is invest in the PrairieThunder and contribute to the success of the team. Professional hockey brings fun and excitement that we’ve never had in our area.

“We want to see the Coliseum and the Pepsi Ice Center be successful. Professional hockey in Bloomington-Normal will contribute substantially to that success in the future.”

The Hardys have been hockey fans all their lives, first in the Chicago area watching the Blackhawks, then traveling to Peoria to take in the Rivermen.

“We were very excited about the prospect of hockey coming to Bloomington and the building of the Coliseum and Pepsi Ice Center,” said John Hardy, a respiratory therapist.

Contributing: Bryan Bloodworth