Edmonton Ice
Encyclopedia
The Edmonton Ice were a junior ice hockey
team based in Edmonton
, Alberta
that played two seasons in the Western Hockey League
.
Despite the long held belief that Major-Junior hockey could not compete against the NHL
, the WHL expanded to Calgary in 1995, and to Edmonton in 1996. While the Hitmen
would eventually make peace with, and ultimately be purchased by the Calgary Flames
, the Ice's history in Edmonton was as rocky as it was short. The Edmonton Oilers
relegated the Ice to also-ran status in the city of Edmonton, and forced them to play in the substandard Northlands Agricom
rather than the preferred 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
.
The Ice were the third 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.
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
team based in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
that played two seasons in the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
.
Despite the long held belief that Major-Junior hockey could not compete against the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, the WHL expanded to Calgary in 1995, and to Edmonton in 1996. While the Hitmen
Calgary Hitmen
The Calgary Hitmen are a major junior ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Hitmen play in the Central Division of the Western Hockey League . They play their home games at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a local-born professional wrestler, was a founding owner...
would eventually make peace with, and ultimately be purchased by the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
, the Ice's history in Edmonton was as rocky as it was short. The Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
relegated the Ice to also-ran status in the city of Edmonton, and forced them to play in the substandard Northlands Agricom
Northlands Agricom
The Edmonton Exposition and Conference Centre, or Edmonton EXPO Centre for short, is a multi-purpose arena/conference centre variously used as a sports and music venue, and for hosting trade shows and conferences. It is located in Northlands in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, adjacent to Rexall Place....
rather than the preferred 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
Cranbrook, British Columbia
Cranbrook, British Columbia is a city in southeast British Columbia, located on the west side of the Kootenay River at its confluence with the St. Mary's River, It is the largest urban centre in the region known as the East Kootenay. As of 2006, Cranbrook's population is 18,267, and the...
, where they became the Kootenay Ice
Kootenay Ice
The Kootenay Ice are a major junior ice hockey team based in Cranbrook, British Columbia and competing in the Western Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the Cranbrook Recreational Complex, also nicknamed the RecPlex.-History:...
.
The Ice were the third 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
Edmonton Oil Kings
This article refers to the original Oil Kings franchises that existed until 1978. For the current team that began play in 2007, see 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
|
Jason Jaffray Jason Jaffray is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Winnipeg Jets organization of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... Steve McCarthy Steve McCarthy is a professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the ZSC Lions of National League A.-Playing career:... Jaroslav Obšut Jaroslav Obšut is a Slovak professional ice hockey player currently playing for HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
Jarret Stoll Jarret Stoll is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League... Kyle Wanvig Kyle Wanvig is a Canadian ice hockey right winger who plays for Augsburger Panther.- Career :Wanvig was originally drafted 89th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, but he re-entered the draft and was selected 36th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft... Jeremy Yablonski Jeremy Yablonski is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for Vityaz Chekhov of the Kontinental Hockey League. Primarily a hockey enforcer, Yablonski is a six-time Golden Gloves boxing champion from Canada.... |
See also
- List of ice hockey teams in Alberta
- Edmonton Oil KingsEdmonton Oil KingsThis article refers to the original Oil Kings franchises that existed until 1978. For the current team that began play in 2007, see Edmonton Oil Kings...
- Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)