BlackBerry head denies saying Habs were for sale

Research in Motion boss Jim Balsillie denies telling a Montreal French-language newspaper that the city's Canadiens hockey team is for sale.

Balsillie's spokesman Richard Rodier said the head of the BlackBerry maker was in shock when he heard about the story that appeared in Friday's edition of La Presse.

The report is a complete misunderstanding and a flight of fantasy, said Rodier, a Toronto lawyer for Balsillie.

Rodier told the Canadian Press that Balsillie was quick to send an apology to Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett.

Gillett and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman both denied the club was for sale.

Rodier says Balsillie and Gillett have met on a number of occasions, but there were no discussions about the sale of the hockey club.

Balsillie has been trying to buy an NHL franchise in recent years, but has been unsuccessful.

The 46-year-old RIM co-founder has an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion, according to a 2007 report by Forbes.com.

Rodier said Balsillie still has designs on an NHL franchise.