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.[citation needed]
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 Final series, the Ice played two 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]
