Wenatchee Wild

Last updated

Wenatchee Wild
Wenatchee Wild Logo2018.png
City Wenatchee, Washington
League Western Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionU.S.
Founded1996
Home arena Town Toyota Center
ColorsBlue, black, and white
   
Owner(s)David White
General managerBliss Littler
Head coach Roy Sommer [1]
MediaNewsRadio 560 KPQ
Website chl.ca/whl-wild
Franchise history
1996–1998 Edmonton Ice
1998–2019 Kootenay Ice
2019–2023 Winnipeg Ice
2023–presentWenatchee Wild

The Wenatchee Wild are an American major junior ice hockey team based in Wenatchee, Washington and playing in the Western Hockey League. Founded in 1996 as the Edmonton Ice, the franchise was known as the Winnipeg Ice from 2019 until 2023, when it was purchased and relocated to Wenatchee ahead of the 2023–24 season. The Wild play in the U.S. Division of the WHL's Western Conference, hosting games at the Town Toyota Center.

Contents

History

The Wild franchise originated as the Edmonton Ice, a WHL expansion team added in 1996. After two years in Edmonton, the original Ice moved to Cranbrook, British Columbia—which would be one of the smallest cities in the league—and became the Kootenay Ice. After two decades in Cranbrook, which included three league championships and a Memorial Cup title, the team relocated to Winnipeg in 2019. [2] However, with the Ice playing in the league's smallest venue on the University of Manitoba campus, and with promises for a new arena failing to materialize, the Ice were put up for sale in 2023, after a season that saw the team reach the league final. [3]

David and Lisa White, who owned and operated the British Columbia Hockey League's Wenatchee Wild—a successful junior A club that in 2018 became the first American team to win the BCHL title in four decades [4] —purchased the Ice with the intention of moving the team to Wenatchee. [5] The Whites announced that the BCHL team would cease operations, with the Wild name and branding being adopted by the WHL team. [6] The new team was added to the U.S. Division of the Western Conference of the WHL, alongside new in-state rivals, the Seattle Thunderbirds, Everett Silvertips, Spokane Chiefs, and Tri-City Americans, as well as the Portland Winterhawks. [6]

On July 13, 2023, the team announced that Kevin Constantine—a former Silvertips and National Hockey League head coach—had been hired as the team's first coach. [7] However, Constantine was suspended indefinitely by the WHL on September 25, only days into the team's inaugural season, pending an independent investigation into alleged violations of the league's regulations and policies. [8] Constantine's contract was terminated by the club on October 5 and on October 12, 2023, the team announced that it had hired Roy Sommer, who holds the record for the most coaching wins in the American Hockey League, as its new coach. [9]

The Wild's first regular season game took place on September 22, 2023, when they hosted the Portland Winterhawks. The Wild trailed 4–1 in the first period, but came back to win the game by a score of 6–5. [10] The Wild went on to win 34 games and secured a playoff spot, facing off against the Kelowna Rockets in the first round. The Rockets prevailed in the series, eliminating Wenatchee in six games. [11]

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

SeasonGPWLOTLSOLGFGAPointsFinishPlayoffs
2023–24 68343040249268723rd U.S.Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

Current roster

Updated May 10, 2024. [12]

# Nat Player Pos S/G AgeAcquiredBirthplaceDrafted
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Reid Andresen D L19 2024 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Undrafted
45 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Steven Arp LW R20 2022 Swan River, Manitoba Undrafted
26 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Chase Bambrick D R17 2021 Nelson, British Columbia Eligible 2025
4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ashton Brown C R17 2022 Sherwood Park, Alberta Eligible 2025
23 Flag of Latvia.svg Rodzers Bukarts C L19 2023 Jurmala, Latvia Undrafted
19 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Miles Cooper C L17 2021 Calgary, Alberta Eligible 2024
5 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Josh Fluker D R18 2024 Boissevain, Manitoba Eligible 2024
17 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ty Fraser RW R19 2020 Raymond, Alberta Undrafted
10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Evan Friesen RW L19 2021 Winnipeg, Manitoba Undrafted
35 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brendan Gee G R18 2023 Vancouver, British Columbia Undrafted
37 Flag of the United States.svg Cru Hanas C L19 2024 Highland Village, Texas Undrafted
31 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Daniel Hauser G L20 2019 Chestermere, Alberta Undrafted
86 Flag of Japan.svg Kenta Isogai LW L19 2023 Nagano, Japan Undrafted
13 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Caelan Joudrey RW R16 2023 Airdrie, Alberta Eligible 2026
16 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Maddix McCagherty LW L17 2024 Kelowna, British Columbia Eligible 2024
18 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Hayden Moore C R17 2021 Winnipeg, Manitoba Eligible 2024
7 Flag of the United States.svg Brayden Pankey D L18 2023 Spokane, Washington Eligible 2024
30 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Justin Perreault G R16 2022 Winnipeg, Manitoba Eligible 2025
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Grant Reid C L16 2024 Surrey, British Columbia Eligible 2025
20 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kurt Rookes D L18 2023 Manson, Manitoba Undrafted
14 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dawson Seitz C R19 2023 Medicine Hat, Alberta Undrafted
27 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Luka Shcherbyna C R17 2023 Vancouver, British Columbia Eligible 2024
21 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sam Ward D L18 2024 Kamloops, British Columbia Undrafted
2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Landon Young D L18 2021 Edmonton, Alberta Eligible 2024

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References

  1. ↑ "Wild hire AHL's winningest coach Roy Sommer". chl.ca. October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  2. ↑ Potenteau, Doyle (January 29, 2019). "WHL confirms Kootenay Ice relocation to Winnipeg". Global News . Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Western Hockey League team abandoning Winnipeg after failing to build new arena". CBC News . The Canadian Press. June 16, 2023. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  4. ↑ Bregolisse, Doris Maria (April 20, 2018). "Wenatchee Wild win BCHL Fred Page Cup". Global News. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  5. ↑ Ewen, Stan (June 16, 2023). "Winnipeg Ice moving to Wenatchee leaves much to unpack for WHL and BCHL". The Province . Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Shefte, Kate (June 16, 2023). "Washington gets fifth WHL team, as Winnipeg Ice to become Wenatchee Wild". Seattle Times . Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  7. ↑ Draude, Austin (July 13, 2023). "Wild hire Kevin Constantine as head coach who brings extensive WHL, NHL and International experience". The Wenatchee World . Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  8. ↑ "WHL suspends Wenatchee Wild coach Constantine pending investigation into alleged violations". The Sports Network . September 25, 2023. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  9. ↑ Stevens, Rand (October 12, 2023). "Wild spin tumultuous moment into momentum; name new head coach". The Wenatchee World. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  10. ↑ Bernstein, Dave (September 23, 2023). "Wenatchee Wild tally for win in WHL debut". 560 KPQ . Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  11. ↑ Draude, Austin (April 9, 2024). "Wild's season concludes with 4-2 loss at Kelowna on Sunday". The Wenatchee World. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  12. ↑ "WHL Network". Western Hockey League. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
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