Portland Winterhawks owner Bill Gallacher, who just turned 52, is the billionaire businessman (chairman of Athabasca Oil Corp.) who rescued the city’s major-junior hockey team five years ago and has seen it become a WHL powerhouse. Gallacher is a quiet, unassuming and low-key owner who rarely gives interviews. He spoke with us by phone on Monday afternoon and touched on a variety of subjects, including the controversial WHL sanctions in November and his future plans to own an NHL team.

"I don't meddle,'' says Hawks' owner Bill Gallacher, who still maintains hope that the punitive WHL sanctions against his team will be lessened by the league.





Q: You are so busy with your business interests I know you rarely get to see the Winterhawks live. Do you plan to catch any games of the WHL Finals?





A: I hope so, I really do. I've spent more time in the air lately than I do on the ground. Gone from one part of the world to the other. I’m in Calgary (his home) quite a bit. As long as I’m not out of the country, I would certainly be there (in Calgary or Edmonton). I saw them play in February. I watch as much as I can if I'm on the road. I talk to Mike (Johnston) and Travis (Green) and (team president) Doug Piper. And when I can't get to the games, I follow them all the time. ... I get more emails about the Winterhawks than I do about business. And that comes from every part of the world. Everybody's really excited about the run we're making and the kind of team we've put together.





Q: It sounds like you are proud of this franchise, which was at rock bottom when you bought it in 2008 but has now reached the WHL Finals three years in a row.





A: You know what, the team we have in Portland, from top to bottom, is outstanding. I don't care what kind of business you're in, it all starts with people. We want to build a team with a legacy that's long-lasting, not just (a team) that's up one year and down the next. That's why we've put so much time and effort and money into it, making sure we do the right things. And that's what Portland deserves. The fans in Portland are outstanding. I've been to a lot of buildings and very few fans are as knowledgeable as Portland Winterhawks fans.





Q: You issued a statement expressing your disappointment at the WHL sanctions issued back in November. How do you feel now, months later, and do you feel there is any chance the league lessens the punishment? Many thought a $200,000 fine, loss of draft picks, and the season-long suspension of your head coach/general manager was excessive.





A: I am 190 percent behind the guys in Portland. It has been disappointing, and frustrating. We've got to be careful about talking in specifics because of the league and where they are but I'm still hopeful, I really am. There is no better human being that I run into than Mike Johnston. So that should say everything that needs to be said about all of that.





Q: It bothers Mike Johnston that there are fans and people in hockey who are convinced the Hawks cheated to get players. That must also frustrate you.





A: I think the way to answer that is, look, there's a lot of jealousy in the league and a lot of jealousy outside the league with other fans. ... I'm not sure how to do that (cheat). Someone will have to explain to me how do that. What we did was put the best people in the right spots, empower them to do their jobs, and provide them with all of the tools they needed whether it be scouting or whatever. When you do that, you have a better chance of success and that's what I did. ... I may be the owner, but that's just one of the cogs in the wheel of success. The last thing I would do is say "look what I've done" because I'm just a part of something. Every person in that organization is part of our success and what makes this thing go. ... When we first started, Portland was an absolute mess. As bad as anyone could imagine. We didn't run to anybody to complain, we just put our heads down and worked really hard to get where we are now.





Q: On a personal level, knowing how much respect you have for Mike Johnston, what are your thoughts on how he's handled a gut-wrenching season in which he couldn't be involved with the team on a day to day basis?





A: I cannot begin to explain how proud I am of the high road that Mike has taken through all of this. He has been nothing but classy throughout the whole (episode). Again, it's a real tribute to his character. And that character and leadership trickles down to the team. ... There's very few human beings I have met who are more upstanding than Mike Johnston and I'm proud to be associated with him, both personally and professionally. ... There needs to be more people in this world, especially the hockey world, like Mike Johnston.





Q: The Hawks not only handled the adversity of the sanctions and losing their coach, they put together the greatest regular season in the 37-year history of the franchise under acting coach Travis Green. That had to be exciting for you to see.





A: I'm proud of what Travis and the staff did in Mike's absence. It's a real tribute to the shared philosophy of Mike and Travis in terms of how they coach, how we play as a team, and how things are run on a day-to-day basis. ... if you have a winning attitude, a competitive attitude, a first-class attitude like they all do, good things will happen.





Q: You enjoy the sport of hockey, and it's obvious that owning the Winterhawks brings you personal enjoyment, right?





A: I love being associated with the Portland Winterhawks. I love hockey. I absolutely love hockey. But I also must tell you that when I bought (the Hawks), I bought them for a specific reason. I thought we could put a group of individuals together who could build something special. ... I'm as competitive as the next guy. I love to win. But building an organization that has a chance to win year after year? That's the best thing you can do.





Q: Your name gets thrown around a lot when NHL teams are for sale? You made a run at the Dallas Stars, you were linked to the New Jersey Devils, and at one time you were going to "save'' the Phoenix Coyotes. I assume you still want to be an NHL owner at some point. If it happens, how does that affect the Hawks?





A: I'm mentioned in a lot of rumors. It (NHL ownership) has got to be the right time, under the right circumstances, under the right situation. Whatever I do with the NHL, I'm not going to do anything else but continue to support and be a part of the Portland Winterhawks. I wouldn't trade one for the other.





Q: Some have written that you want to bring an NHL team to Portland. Is that true?





A: No. I’ve been asked a lot if Portland would support an NHL team and I’m not sure. From my perspective, I just see what support the Winterhawks have. Whether Portland can or can’t (support an NHL team) I don’t have the answer. I don’t think there was ever any kind of discussions about trying to move a team there.





Q: Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen is actively involved in what his NBA team does, especially come draft time. You don’t exactly have the same style as a WHL owner, do you?





A: I talk to Mike and Travis (and Piper) all the time, but I don’t bug them, right? I’m very respectful of not getting in the way, not asking them what they’re doing every day. That’s not my job, it’s theirs. I just want to make sure they understand I’m there 100 percent to support them any way I need to. That’s important. I don’t meddle. They would tell you that. But they know if they need anything, all they have to do is tell me and let me know.

-- Paul Buker