NASHUA – The John Creedon, Jr. ownership era of the Nashua Silver Knights has begun to take full hold as the team has named a former Nashua Pride pitcher, Dave Pahucki, as its new general manager and former Silver Knight third baseman Cam Cook as team/stadium operations manager.

Creedon, who agreed a month ago to buy the local Futures Collegiate Baseball League entry from its longtime founding owner Drew Weber, is also finalizing the club’s lease renewal with the city through the board approval process. His and Weber’s attorneys are also waiting for that to be finished before they close on the sale of the team.

“We’re nearing the finish line,” said Creedon, who also owns the FCBL’s Worcester Bravehearts, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Creedon confirmed that former co-general managers Michael Broderick and Victoria Cookson are no longer employed by the Silver Knights. Broderick, although he would not comment further, told The Telegraph he was informed on Monday that his position was eliminated. Cookson was with the team as assistant GM last season and Broderick was hired in December by Weber.

Cookson, however, may still have an opportunity to remain with the team in a different front office capacity.

“Anything is possible,” Creedon said. “She and I are going to be having that discussion. … As with any transfer of ownership, there are always changes that occur.”

And one of those changes led Creedon to Pahucki, 38, who had been working in hospitality for a casino in Monticello, N.Y. A native of Middletown, N.Y., he also was a Futures League intern during the 2013 season, assisting then-commissioner Chris Hall – who was his general manager when he played for the Pride.

Ironically Pahucki was also a pitcher in the Red Sox minor league system and ironically had a brief stint with the Lowell Spinners – formerly owned by Weber – in 2002 and pitched for the Pride in 2005, making five appearances, all in relief, with an 0-1 mark. But he was traded to another independent team in Missouri where it was discovered he had a torn labrum and that basically ended his playing days. His career minor league numbers are 17-19, 3.54, with five saves.

“The community was very welcoming,” Pahucki said he remembers from his short Pride stint, “and the playing surface (at Holman) was top-notch.”

But obviously his playing career wasn’t what Creedon and Silver Knights/Bravehearts Vice President Dave Peterson focused on when they hired him. The fact that Pahucki has a background in the hospitality industry was the appeal as Creedon owns a family-run catering company in Worcester, and has said he wants the fan experience to be the priority going

forward.

“Hospitality is obviously a big focus of ours with the Silver Knights,” Creedon said. “His baseball background and experience in hospitality, I think it’s a perfect fit. He’s chomping at the bit.”

“I want to work closely with Dave and John,” Pahucki said, “and make sure the players are comfortable and the franchise is woven into the fabric of the community. The appealing thing is to be back in baseball in a full-time role. …And with any new ownership, there’s a lot to be done.”

Indeed, Pahucki, who actually had lived in the New Hampshire seacoast area for the better part of the last 10 years before working in New York, knows it’s a late start, with the Silver Knights season and home opener two months from Friday.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” he said. “We have to get a staff in place and make sure we’re ready for the season. And I want to reach out to our business partners to see where they’re at.”

The hiring of Cook will certainly be popular with Silver Knight fans, as he was a major key while at third base to the 2016 and 2017 titles – ironically won at the expense of Creedon’s Bravehearts – and he set the league record for hits in 2017.

Cook, a graduate of Nichols College, was working in recruitment and sales for a company in Needham, Mass., but is thrilled to be returning to Holman.

“One thing is the environment,” he said. “Everything about Nashua and the Silver Knights was great. The fans are unbelievable.”

Cookson will be working on the game night logistics, and “making sure the fans get what they need.” He added there will be an elment of marketing in his work as well.

Creedon and Peterson have been hands on, spending a lot of time working with city officials. Creedon also met with Nashua athletic director Lisa Gingras recently to go over what major school events are concessions-worthy at Holman and also to learn more about the community.

“The more time I spend here and the more I learn and the people I meet, the more I’m falling in love with Nashua,” Creedon said. “Things are moving along. We’re ramping things up, and we’re getting our front office folks out in the community.”