Ohsweken,

Ontario(NHN)-Curt Styres doesn't see what the big deal is.
By his own admission he’s just a guy who loves sports. But when you’re a successful First Nations businessman, you can do a little more than the next guy.
Last summer was his biggest moment yet for the successful Styres.

He acquired majority interest of both the National Lacrosse League's Rochester Knighthawks and the second oldest franchise in the AHL, the Rochester Americans and became the first Native American or First Nations person to own a professional hockey franchise while doing so.
But the deal didn't come without it's share of stressful moments either. “They did their background checks on me. I don’t know how I passed the test but I was voted in unanimously by all the teams in the American Hockey League,” said Styres.
What most people don’t know is that the deal came within 45 minutes of being scuttled.
“We were going to walk away from that deal and had started talks with another lacrosse team,” said Styres. “With all the stuff going on in Rochester we wondered who would want to get involved with these guys,” said Styres. “They asked where I was from. To make sure I had the wherewithal to see if I had the capital to operate a franchise.”
“The Americans were a throw in.”
Initially, after looking at the demographics of the city, Styres was concerned about the city’s size. “We should have taken that into consideration," he said frankly. "They really needed sponsorship and season ticket holders to be successful. We’re still developing that end of our operation,” said Styres.
In the end he found out that buying a team doesn’t guarantee a winning season.
The Amerks finished dead last in their division and that didn't sit well at all with Styres. He's worked hard this off season to ensure the Americans are more competitive on the ice. He hired Ted Nolan as his Vice President of Hockey Operations and Nolan went right to work, getting scouting reports and seeing who was available to sign.
They made an offer to Jason Krog, the AHL's MVP a couple of seasons ago, but were turned down.
“We need a good product, we need to be good on the ice to be good at the box office. You put those things together and you’re off to the races,” said Styres.
He ought to know.

He has a successful record of building championship sports teams before.
His junior lacrosse team, The Six Nations Arrows, bought into his vision of preparing to be successful both on and off the floor and he returned their buy-in with one of his own.
Styres built them a state-of the-art 3000 seat lacrosse arena, complete with workout facilities right on the reserve.
The arena floor is so good in fact that National Lacrosse League teams come onto the reserve to practice and play games at Six Nations. “Not bad. Who would have thought they would come here?” said Styres. “Double headers happen here and it’s quite a unique situation. Our floor is the best out of all the teams in the NLL and it’s right here in Six Nations,” said Styres.
He’s not done yet either. Not by a long shot.
In fact, he’s got his sights set on a Major Junior hockey franchise and he’s not limiting his choices either. “I’d like to get into junior hockey whether it be Alberta or Ontario. OHL or WHL, get involved in that one way or another. I’m thinking of pro soccer as well,” said Styres. “Do you think Winnipeg would support an NLL franchise?”
“What a remarkable accomplishment,” said former Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, himself a former junior hockey franschise owner. “He’s really made history by acquiring both the Knighthawks and the Americans. The thing is, Curt Styres just goes and does.”
But Styres puts his perspective in slightly different terms.
“Let’s face it, it‘s every mans dream to retire to your hobby, it’s the American dream and everyone chases it. That’s what makes the world go around,” said Styres. “Once you stop dreaming do you stop living too?”
His dream is simple.
“I’d like to put together a bid for an NHL franchise and have Indians competing for the Stanley Cup.”