Winnipeg Ice
The Winnipeg Ice (officially stylized as ICE) were a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The team began competing in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the 2019–20 WHL season, and played home games at the Wayne Fleming Arena (Max Bell Centre). A failure to construct a new arena for the team, a condition the league required in the move from Cranbrook, British Columbia, ultimately led to the team being sold and relocated to Wenatchee, Washington for the 2023–24 season.
| Winnipeg Ice | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| League | Western Hockey League |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | East |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Home arena | Wayne Fleming Arena |
| Colours | Light blue, black, red, white |
| Franchise history | |
| 1996–1998 | Edmonton Ice |
| 1998–2019 | Kootenay Ice |
| 2019–2023 | Winnipeg Ice |
| 2023–present | Wenatchee Wild |
| Championships | |
| Playoff championships | Conference champions 1 (2022–23) |
History
The Ice were founded in 1996 as the Edmonton Ice, an expansion team owned by Ed Chynoweth, the WHL's longtime president. The team relocated to Cranbrook, British Columbia in 1998, becoming the Kootenay Ice. The Kootenay Ice were three-time WHL champions (2000, 2002, 2011) and captured the Memorial Cup in 2002. The team was purchased by 50 Below Sports + Entertainment Inc. in 2017.[1]
In January 2019, the Kootenay Ice announced a move to Winnipeg after the 2018–19 season, to play at the Wayne Fleming Arena on the University of Manitoba campus until a new arena was completed.[2] As part of the relocation, the Ice were moved to the WHL's East Division.
The Winnipeg Ice played their first regular season game on September 20 in Brandon, defeating the Brandon Wheat Kings by a score of 3–2.[3]
During the 2023 WHL Championship round, the Ice played home games at the Canada Life Centre, home rink of Winnipeg's professional hockey teams.[4]
On June 16, 2023, the team was sold to David White of the Shoot the Puck Foundation, and would relocate to Wenatchee, Washington for the 2023–24 WHL season, where they will be known as the Wenatchee Wild.[5]
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | 63 | 38 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 231 | 207 | 77 | 2nd East | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020–21 | 24 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 70 | 37 | 2nd East | No playoffs were held |
| 2021–22 | 68 | 53 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 317 | 152 | 111 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference final |
| 2022–23 | 68 | 57 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 325 | 177 | 115 | 1st East | Lost Finals |
NHL alumni
References
- "WHL to announce Kootenay Ice moving to Winnipeg – on the coldest day of the year". Global News. January 29, 2019.
- "WHL's Kootenay ICE to relocate to Winnipeg for 2019–20 season". The Province. January 29, 2019.
- "Ice fill house, lose game, in home debut". Winnipeg Sun. September 21, 2019.
- "WHL Championship Series will be played at Canada Life Centre". Winnipeg Ice. May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- "Winnipeg Ice sold and will be moved to Washington". TSN. June 16, 2023.