(Ottawa) The sale of the Ottawa Senators is finally official.

The NHL announced Thursday that the sale of the team to a group led by Michael Andlauer had been unanimously approved by the league’s board of governors and that the transaction had been finalized.

The Andlauer Group reached a deal to buy the team in June for an estimated amount of approximately US$1 billion.

The Senators were put up for sale last November following the death of owner Eugene Melnyk, whose daughters retain 10 percent of the team.

Approval of the sale was announced on the opening day of NHL training camps.

The Senators will play their first preseason game of the 2023-2024 season on Sunday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.