Edmonton Ice
| Edmonton Ice | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Edmonton, Alberta |
| League | Western Hockey League |
| Operated | 1996–98 |
| Home arena | Northlands Agricom |
| Colours | Blue, bronze, black, and white |
| Franchise history | |
| 1996–1998 | Edmonton Ice |
| 1998–2019 | Kootenay Ice |
| 2019–present | Winnipeg Ice |
The Edmonton Ice were a junior ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, that played two seasons in the Western Hockey League from 1996 to 1998.
History
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Despite the long-held belief[according to whom?] that major junior hockey could not compete against the NHL, the WHL expanded to Calgary, Alberta in 1995, and to Edmonton in 1996. While the Hitmen would be a success, and ultimately were purchased by the Calgary Flames, the Ice's history in Edmonton was rocky. Forced to play in the substandard Northlands Agricom rather than the Northlands Coliseum. After only two seasons in which the team lost games on the ice and a great deal of money off it, the team decamped for Cranbrook, British Columbia, where they became the Kootenay Ice. In 2019, the Ice relocated once again and are currently playing as the Winnipeg Ice.[1]
The Ice were the second Edmonton team to play in the WHL, preceded by two incarnations of the Edmonton Oil Kings from 1966–76 and 1977–78. After nine years absent of the Alberta capital, the WHL returned to Edmonton again in 2007 with the third incarnation of the Edmonton Oil Kings which are owned by, rather than opposed by, the Oilers.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1996–97 | 72 | 14 | 56 | 2 | 231 | 295 | 30 | 5th Central | Out of playoffs |
| 1997–98 | 72 | 17 | 49 | 6 | 242 | 328 | 40 | 4th Central | Out of playoffs |
NHL alumni
See also
References
- ^ "WHL to announce Kootenay Ice moving to Winnipeg – on the coldest day of the year". Global News. January 29, 2019.