Winnipeg Ice sold, will move to Wenatchee

After just four seasons in the Manitoba capital, two of which were shortened with no playoffs due to the pandemic, the Winnipeg Ice are on the move again.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported this morning that the franchise has been sold to businessman David White and will move to Wenatchee, Washington.

The Ice confirmed the news with a short statement and confirmed the sale and relocation has received the approval of the WHL Board of Governors and is effective immediately.

📰 BREAKING NEWS 📰

The Wenatchee Wild organization is excited and humbled to announce its approval as the newest member club in the Western Hockey League, effective with the 2023-24 season. #RestoreTheRoar pic.twitter.com/S18qrD4iIa

— Wenatchee Wild (@WenatcheeWild1) June 16, 2023

Wenatchee is a city of around 35,000 people in central Washington, a three-hour drive from the Osoyoos border crossing.

The BCHL’s Wenatchee Wild have played home games out of the 4,300-seat Toyota Town Centre since joining the league in 2015 and the relocated Ice will do the same.

White said the organization is “very excited” to be joining the WHL.

“Our vision has always been to operate with the highest level of standards for our players, and we have a responsibility to develop players to the best of our ability and prepare them for the next level,” he said.

“For our players, our community and our organization, this is an incredible opportunity to provide the greatest overall experience in our great sport.”

The Wild will become the sixth member of the WHL’s US Division, joining the Seattle Thunderbirds, Everett Silvertips, Spokane Chiefs, Tri-City Americans and Portland Winterhawks.

The BCHL released a statement that acknowledged Wenatchee's decision to leave the BCHL for the WHL and it confirmed the league is down to 17 teams for the time being.

“We are grateful to the BCHL for welcoming us when they did, and for the great leadership under Chris Hebb, Steve Cocker and Graham Fraser – we wish them the best,” added White.

This is the fourth move for the franchise after being founded as the Edmonton Ice in 1996. The expansion team lasted just two years in the Alberta capital before being moved to Cranbrook and becoming the Kootenay Ice.

After two decades in Cranbrook, winning three WHL championships and a Memorial Cup, the franchise moved again, this time to Winnipeg. One of the conditions of that move was a new arena deal, but that was never met and sparked the latest move to Wenatchee.