Winnipeg Ice

Winnipeg Ice was a major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) that played from 2019 to 2023. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the franchise was previously known as the Kootenay Ice before relocating from Cranbrook, British Columbia. The team played its home games at the Wayne Fleming Arena on the campus of the University of Manitoba and was a member of the WHL's Eastern Conference within the East Division.

History

The franchise originated in 1996 as the Edmonton Ice, playing one season in Edmonton before relocating to become the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook, British Columbia. Under that identity, the team won the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2000 and 2002 and captured the Memorial Cup in 2002. After 22 seasons in Cranbrook, declining attendance and an aging facility led ownership to seek a new home. In 2019, the WHL Board of Governors approved the relocation to Winnipeg, a city with a rich hockey history including the original Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association and National Hockey League. The team was renamed Winnipeg Ice and began play for the 2019–20 WHL season, though their inaugural season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. The franchise's final season was 2022–23, after which it was sold and relocated to become the Wenatchee Wild.

Season-by-season record

In their inaugural 2019–20 WHL season, the Ice posted a record of 38–24–4–2, finishing second in the East Division before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following 2020–21 WHL season was abbreviated and played in a hub-city format, with the team compiling a 17–4–0–1 record. The 2021–22 WHL season was the most successful in franchise history, as the Ice finished with a league-best 53–10–3–2 record, won the WHL Championship by defeating the Seattle Thunderbirds in the finals, and advanced to the Memorial Cup tournament. In their final campaign, the 2022–23 WHL season, the team again dominated the regular season with a 57–10–1–0 record, winning the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy, but fell in the WHL playoffs Eastern Conference Final to the eventual champion Seattle Thunderbirds.

Team information

The Winnipeg Ice played their home games at the Wayne Fleming Arena, a 1,600-seat facility on the campus of the University of Manitoba. The team's colors were blue, silver, and white. Their primary rivals included the Brandon Wheat Kings, Moose Jaw Warriors, and Saskatoon Blades within the East Division and the Western Conference. The franchise was owned by Greg Fettes and Matt Cockell, with Cockell also serving as the general manager. The team's departure after the 2022–23 season marked the end of major junior hockey in Winnipeg, though the city remains home to the professional American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.

Players

The Ice developed numerous high-caliber players who were selected in the NHL Entry Draft. Notable alumni include Peyton Krebs, a first-round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights who later played for the Buffalo Sabres, and Carson Lambos, a first-round selection of the Minnesota Wild. Key players during the team's championship run in 2022 included forwards Matthew Savoie (drafted by the Buffalo Sabres) and Conor Geekie (drafted by the Arizona Coyotes), and goaltender Daniel Hauser. The team also featured import players such as Czech forward Jakub Špaček and German defenseman Nolan Orzeck.

Team staff

The general manager throughout the Winnipeg Ice era was Matt Cockell, who also held a co-ownership stake. The head coach for the team's entire tenure in Winnipeg was James Patrick, a former National Hockey League defenseman with extensive experience including time with the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres. Assistant coaches included Jon Klemm, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche, and goaltending coach Jomar Cruz. The director of player personnel was Marty Murray, a former NHL forward and American Hockey League head coach.

Achievements and awards

The franchise's pinnacle achievement was winning the WHL Championship in 2022. The team also won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions in both 2022 and 2023. Individual player awards included Matthew Savoie winning the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year in 2020 and Conor Geekie capturing the same award in 2021. Goaltender Daniel Hauser received the WHL Goaltender of the Year award in 2022. The team produced several first-round NHL draft picks, including Peyton Krebs, Carson Lambos, Matthew Savoie, and Conor Geekie.