The Winnipeg ICE Western Hockey League franchise is moving south of the border.
The Western Hockey League announced Friday the sale of the team to American owner David White, who intends to move the team to Wenatchee, Wash.
The Wenatchee team will play in the Western Conference as the sixth team in the U.S. Division and that balances the league with 11 teams in each of the Western and Eastern conferences.
The B.C Hockey League announced the Wenatchee Wild will no longer compete in the league as the only American-based franchise.
That will affect the Prince George Spruce Kings’ schedule now that the BCHL has dropped to 17 teams.
“The Wenatchee Wild has been a strong BCHL franchise and we extend our best wishes for their continued success in the future,” said BCHL chairman Graham Fraser, in a league release.
“As a league, we are assessing our next steps, including reviewing the best options for players currently on the Wenatchee Wild's roster and addressing schedule implications for the 2023-24 season.”
