Lightning Ownership Mess Gets Even More Peculiar

As he seeks partners to take controlling ownership of the franchise, Tampa Bay Lightning co-owner Len Barrie is facing some significant accusations of fraud and shady business dealings according to an article in the St. Petersburg Times. This comes on the heels of a Toronto Globe and Mail report that claims that Barrie sent a letter to the NHL stating he will not be able to buy out co-owner Oren Koules and Koules is prepared to make his move to secure full ownership of the franchise. According to the Times report, an executive of Barrie's Bear Mountain Resort accused the Lightning co-owner of misappropriating millions from the company to help buy a 35 percent share of the NHL team. "My number was, between $16 (million) and $20 million was misappropriated over that period of time," Scott Bye told the Times. The St. Petersburg Times has been hot on the trail of Barrie, using a confidential audit report from December that said Barrie misappropriated up to $26 million to h...