After months of speculation, the Winnipeg ICE is leaving the Manitoba capital.
The WHL franchise has been sold to David White and will be moving to Wenatchee, Washington.
This allows the Wenatchee Wild who spent the last eight years in the BCHL to transition to major junior and compete in the WHL starting in the 2023-24 season.
The WHL announced today that the Winnipeg ICE franchise has been sold and relocated to Wenatchee, Washington, and will operate under the new ownership of David White of the California-based Shoot the Puck Foundation.
DETAILS | https://t.co/2qbWpLU3Sp pic.twitter.com/Qfhv8NNlW0
— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 16, 2023
Prior to moving to Winnipeg, the franchise was formerly called the Edmonton Ice (1996-98) and then Kootenay Ice (1998-2019).
50 Below Sports + Entertainment purchased the WHL club in 2017, before announcing its move from Cranbrook, BC, to Winnipeg two years later.
The ICE began play in Manitoba during the 2019-20 season, suiting up for four years out of the 1,600 seat Wayne Fleming Arena in South Winnipeg.
Winnipeg is the reigning Eastern Conference Champion but fell in the WHL Final to the Seattle Thunderbirds in five games.
More details and what they're saying about our big news here:#RestoreTheRoar pic.twitter.com/S2ZjblVVjy
— Wenatchee Wild (@WenatcheeWild1) June 16, 2023
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