Winnipeg’s WHL team leaving for Washington state

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This article was published 16/06/2023 (1134 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Ice confirmed Friday what had been rumoured for weeks: the team is leaving town four years after setting up shop, talking big about re-establishing major junior hockey here and constructing a new arena.

The announcement came with an admission the Western Hockey League organization failed to deliver on its promises.

The Ice will move to Wenatchee, Wash., after being sold to businessman David White, owner of a B.C. Junior Hockey League team in that community. The sale of the Ice was ratified this week at the WHL’s annual governors meeting.

The team will compete in the WHL’s U.S. division this fall.

The Ice lasted four seasons in Winnipeg under local owner Greg Fettes, the CEO of IntouchCX.

The Ice led the WHL this past season with a 57-10-1 record under head coach, former NHL defenceman and Winnipegger James Patrick, ultimately losing the league final to the Seattle Thunderbirds.

The team boasts a number of bona fide NHL prospects, such as forwards Connor Geekie, Matthew Savoie, Zack Ostapchuk and projected 2023 first-round draft pick Zach Benson, along with defenceman Carson Lambos.

But a plan for a new 4,000 to 5,000-seat building never materialized, contrary to its commitment to the WHL four years ago when the team was purchased and moved from Cranbrook, B.C., to the Manitoba capital.

Instead, home games were played in the less-than-ideal 1,800-seat Wayne Fleming Arena on the University of Manitoba campus.

Despite repeated attempts by the Free Press to get answers in recent months, the club and league remained silent — until Friday.

“We are proud of what we were able to build as far as our organization both on and off the ice. Our players, coaches, staff, billet families, sponsors and partners at the U of M all contributed to make this one of the most sought-after places to play by players in the WHL,” Fettes said in a statement.

“However, despite our success in building the organization, we were unable to confirm our ability to build a new facility in Winnipeg that met the WHL standards on a timeline that was acceptable to the WHL.

“Unfortunately, we were just never able to get the project on solid footing due to the changing landscape (during and post-pandemic). Simply put, we ran out of time.

“Our failure to get a new facility built that would solidify the future of the WHL in Winnipeg is incredibly heartbreaking… I’m sorry we let you down.”

It’s the second time the city has gained and lost a WHL team. The Winnipeg Warriors played here in the early 1980s before the franchise moved to Moose Jaw, Sask.

A source told the Free Press last weekend that the Ice informed game-day production staff, such as camera operators and sound/lighting technicians, to find work elsewhere next season.

Yet, as recently as last Wednesday, the Ice continued to market season-ticket packages on its social media platforms.

Repeated attempts to reach Fettes through communications staff from both the hockey club and his business were unsuccessful last week when it became apparent the team was about to be sold.

“Our failure to get a new facility built that would solidify the future of the WHL in Winnipeg is incredibly heartbreaking… I’m sorry we let you down.”–Greg Fettes

A WHL spokesman didn’t return multiple messages seeking comment, either.

In January 2019, the local ownership group offered high hopes following the purchase.

“The Winnipeg Ice are part of a much larger commitment to hockey development in Winnipeg and a significant real estate development in the south end of the city,” Fettes, 50 Below Sports + Entertainment chairman, stated.

“It all starts with the building of an event centre that will be designed to provide a truly unique entertainment experience specifically for families, millennials and hardcore hockey fans. We look forward to sharing more development plans and our vision.”

As recently as this past December, the WHL released a statement that read as follows: “The Winnipeg Ice have assembled a highly competitive team this season and the WHL continues to work with the Ice regarding a solution to the club’s long-term plans for a suitable facility in Winnipeg.”

The league said more information would be released in 2023. No new information followed.

Ice forward Conor Geekie of Strathclair said the players heard the innuendo last season, too, just like everyone else. But as they battled their way to the WHL final, they chose to disregard the outside distractions.

“It’s one of those things you never really listen into,” Geekie said, in an interview with the Brandon Sun. “There are rumours all over the world and this year it just happened to be us. I think it was very unexpected for us with how we were playing as a team and how far we got.”

All of that changed on Friday morning. After a workout, Geekie checked Instagram on his phone and learned about the move to Wenatchee. It was a similar situation for his teammates.

“The most frustrating thing is how we found out,” Geekie said. “There wasn’t much notice. We all found at the same time. I’m sure they were swamped but I think we just expected a little bit more in that category.”

— staff