The Albert Lea Thunder may have a new owner by early next week.

Minneapolis businessman Wes Durand is part of a small group of Minneapolis businessmen leading an effort to purchase the franchise from the North American Hockey League.

Durand — a coach with the Edina Lakers, a Tier-III Junior A team in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League — has targeted Albert Lea because the infrastructure for a junior program is already in place and the community is ideal for a junior team.

Durand and the NAHL are in the final stages of negotiations and Durand expects a deal to be in place by mid-week next week, he said.

The possible new ownership group would enter at difficult time because of the misdeeds of the previous owner Barry Soskin. The league stripped Soskin of ownership because of a pay-to-play scandal and mispresentation of ownership. However, having a Junior A team seems to remain a popular concept among most Albert Leans.

Durand is aware of Soskin’s history in the community and said the new ownership group would have a presence in the community.

“We want to be an open book,” Durand said. “We see value in running a solid organization.”

Though there is much work to do with local businesses that were burned with unpaid bills, Durand believes the community will support a Junior A hockey program.

“We know the people of Albert Lea are resilient,” Durand said. “I think the people of Albert Lea will rally around this.”

Durand, who has coached the Lakers for the past year, spearheaded an effort last spring to purchase the team from Soskin, but the two sides were far apart on a purchase price, Durand said.

Durand has an extensive hockey background. He has coached at every level of youth hockey and at the high school level.

“We genuinely believe Albert Lea wants this team,” he said.