OT: Winnipeg ICE sold - Moving to Wenatchee, Washington renamed Wenatchee Wild

[Mooche]

Another night, another pancake game.

Good job, fellas!

 

[jetsmooseice]

The Pats were ripe for the picking, playing their third game in three nights (they had a game in Regina on Saturday and then bussed it to Winnipeg for a game on Sunday...seriously, what is with that schedule) and without some key players including a certain #98. On top of all that, their goalie was starting his first WHL game.

The ICE scored early and often in the first two periods. This game was all about the depth players with the bottom 6 scoring most of the goals. The Shilo/Friesen/Bruce line especially had a solid night, with each member getting a goal.

The frustrated Pats started getting pretty physical in the second half of the game, but it didn't matter because the ICE had it locked down by then. It was another great night at the ICE Cave...

 

[snowkiddin]

Just scrolling through hockeyDB and Mason Beaupit’s stats are horrible.

Not sure I’m a fan of that trade. Hopefully he can turn it around.

 

[jetsmooseice]

Just scrolling through hockeyDB and Mason Beaupit’s stats are horrible.

Not sure I’m a fan of that trade. Hopefully he can turn it around.

I wish we got a little more insight on trades from the local media. Obviously the team won't say much. Mike Sawatzky of the Free Press is the only local media source who truly "reports" on the team, so if he doesn't dig into it then we have no idea.

I will say, Beaupit's stats are coloured by the fact that Spokane sucks. They're a last place team. Cowan's stats have plunged since getting traded there. By contrast, Beaupit's numbers have improved since coming to Winnipeg. And Beaupit has looked decent between the pipes, not really any worse than Cowan. I still wonder what motivated it, though.

 

[snowkiddin]

I wish we got a little more insight on trades from the local media. Obviously the team won't say much. Mike Sawatzky of the Free Press is the only local media source who truly "reports" on the team, so if he doesn't dig into it then we have no idea.

I will say, Beaupit's stats are coloured by the fact that Spokane sucks. They're a last place team. Cowan's stats have plunged since getting traded there. By contrast, Beaupit's numbers have improved since coming to Winnipeg. And Beaupit has looked decent between the pipes, not really any worse than Cowan. I still wonder what motivated it, though.

Still, he’s rocking a cool .873 since he’s come to Winnipeg. I haven’t had a chance to watch much this year, but those stats aren’t very good.

 

[snowkiddin]

Canada's World Juniors roster has been named. No Savoie, Geekie, Lambos or Benson. Disappointing. Lambos was on the team last year. Hockey Canada has never been free of politics, is this another case?

 

[jetsmooseice]

Canada's World Juniors roster has been named. No Savoie, Geekie, Lambos or Benson. Disappointing. Lambos was on the team last year. Hockey Canada has never been free of politics, is this another case?

No Lambos?! That's crazy.

I don't get how you can have three first rounders and one future first rounder on an utterly dominant team and not have room for any of them on a WJHC roster. It doesn't make sense.

 

[John Agar]

Canada's World Juniors roster has been named. No Savoie, Geekie, Lambos or Benson. Disappointing. Lambos was on the team last year. Hockey Canada has never been free of politics, is this another case?

Take a look at the lineup... forwards are humungous except two....

Brennan Othmann	Forward	L	6'0	180	01-05-2003	Pickering, Ont.	Peterborough (OHL)
9		Joshua Roy	Forward	L	6'0	193	08-06-2003	Lévis, Que.	Sherbrooke (LHJMQ)
10		Logan Stankoven	Forward	R	5'8	170	02-26-2003	Kamloops, B.C.	Kamloops (WHL)	DAL '21 (2, 47)
11		Dylan Guenther	Forward	R	6'2	175	04-10-2003	Edmonton, Alta.	Arizona (NHL)/Edmonton (WHL)	ARI '21 (1, 9)
12		Reid Schaefer	Forward	L	6'4	219	09-21-2003	Spruce Grove, Alta.	Seattle (WHL)	EDM '22 (1, 32)
14		Zach Dean	Forward	L	6'0	192	01-04-2003	Mount Pearl, N.L.	Gatineau (LHJMQ)
15		Shane Wright	Forward	R	6'0	192	01-05-2004	Burlington, Ont.	Seattle (NHL)/Kingston (OHL)	SEA '22 (1, 4)
16		Connor Bedard	Forward	R	5'10	185	07-17-2005	North Vancouver, B.C.	Regina (WHL)	'23 (, )
17		Colton Dach	Forward	L	6'4	205	01-04-2003	Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.	Kelowna (WHL)	CHI '21 (2, 62)
18		Caedan Bankier	Forward	L	6'2	190	01-26-2003	Surrey, B.C.	Kamloops (WHL)	MIN '21 (3, 86)
19		Adam Fantilli	Forward	L	6'2	195	10-12-2004	Nobleton, Ont.	University of Michigan (Big Ten)	'23 (, )
20		Zack Ostapchuk	Forward	L	6'3	198	05-29-2003	St. Albert, Alta.	Vancouver (WHL)	VAN '18 (1, 12)
21		Nathan Gaucher	Forward	R	6'3	207	11-06-2003	Richelieu, Que.	Québec (LHJMQ)
2		Nolan Allan	Defence	L	6'3	193	04-28-2003	Davidson, Sask.	Seattle (WHL)	CHI '21 (1, 32)
3		Olen Zellweger	Defence	L	5'10	182	09-10-2003	Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.	Everett (WHL)	ANA '21 (2, 34)
4		Tyson Hinds	Defence	L	6'3	188	03-12-2003	Gatineau, Que.	Sherbrooke (LHJMQ)	ANA '21 (3, 76)
5		Brandt Clarke	Defence	R	6'2	185	02-09-2003	Nepean, Ont.	Los Angeles (NHL)/Barrie (OHL)	LAK '21 (1, 8)
24		Ethan Del Mastro	Defence	L	6'4	206	01-15-2003	Freelton, Ont.	Mississauga (OHL)	CHI '21 (4, 105)
25		Kevin Korchinski	Defence	L	6'3	185	06-21-2004	Saskatoon, Sask.	Seattle (WHL)	CHI '22 (1, 7)
27		Jack Matier	Defence	R	6'4	202	04-08-2003	Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.	Ottawa (OHL)

• GOALTENDERS
  

Number		Player	Pos	Catches	Height	Weight	DOB	Hometown	Current Team	NHL Draft
1		Thomas Milic	Goaltender	L	6'1	175	04-14-2003	Coquitlam, B.C.	Seattle (WHL)	'23 (, )
29		Benjamin Gaudreau	Goaltender	L	6'2	172	01-11-2003	Corbeil, Ont.	Sarnia (OHL)

That's your answer... going big...

 

[tbcwpg]

That's your answer... going big...

And the two smaller forwards are the next McDavid and a player who did really well in August. Tough competition.

 

[Mooche]

Tough news for Lambos. HC typically brings back returnees as well, from what I can recall, so must have been some close competition in camp. Politics aside, just how it goes sometimes.

On the positive side, I suppose, it's good news for the Ice to keep the band together and hopefully keep gaining ground on teams.

Need to make my way out to a few more games. Always fun watching Savoie, Geekie and Lambos cause havoc.

 

[jetsmooseice]

Tough news for Lambos. HC typically brings back returnees as well, from what I can recall, so must have been some close competition in camp. Politics aside, just how it goes sometimes.

On the positive side, I suppose, it's good news for the Ice to keep the band together and hopefully keep gaining ground on teams.

Need to make my way out to a few more games. Always fun watching Savoie, Geekie and Lambos cause havoc.

I was thinking the same thing about the silver lining for the ICE... it won't hurt to have Lambos around a little more. Maybe it will be a motivating factor for him?

And on your list of players, don't forget Zach Benson. I think he just might be the most entertaining player on the team this season!

 

[Mooche]

I was thinking the same thing about the silver lining for the ICE... it won't hurt to have Lambos around a little more. Maybe it will be a motivating factor for him?

And on your list of players, don't forget Zach Benson. I think he just might be the most entertaining player on the team this season!

Er, no kidding, my bad on that one.

Benson is going to be a stud. Been a lot of fun to watch him develop over the past few seasons, too. Love that rugged element to his game.

Whoever nabs him near the top of the 2023 Draft is going to be a happy team in the future.

 

[jetsmooseice]

Er, no kidding, my bad on that one.

Benson is going to be a stud. Been a lot of fun to watch him develop over the past few seasons, too. Love that rugged element to his game.

Whoever nabs him near the top of the 2023 Draft is going to be a happy team in the future.

Apart from his on ice abilities, one thing I love about Benny is his sheer enthusiasm. He's a bit like Ehlers in that regard. He's good at what he does, he loves what he does, and it shows. Lots of smiles and good vibes.

Fun fact: Benson grew up in a carny family (well, sort of). His family owns a large travelling amusement ride company that operates in BC, AB and SK:

Apr 2022: Life a roller-coaster ride for Benson

Zach Benson has been gaining traction as a top prospect for the 2023 NHL Draft but if his hockey career doesn’t lead to fame and fortune in the big leagues, he’ll always have the family bu...

www.winnipegfreepress.com

 

[RetroWinnipeg]

WHL fines 50 Below Sports + Entertainment $500,000 for failure to build new facility in time for 2023-24 season.

Dec 2022: Opinion: No end in sight for Ice arena saga

The Western Hockey League has an arena problem in Winnipeg, resulting in a large fine for the local ownership group of the Ice.

www.winnipegfreepress.com

 

[jetsmooseice]

WHL fines 50 Below Sports + Entertainment $500,000 for failure to build new facility in time for 2023-24 season.

Dec 2022: Opinion: No end in sight for Ice arena saga

The Western Hockey League has an arena problem in Winnipeg, resulting in a large fine for the local ownership group of the Ice.

www.winnipegfreepress.com

This is not something you do if you are trying to encourage construction of a new arena and have the team remain in the market. For instance, I doubt Bettman and the NHL board are fining the Coyotes for failing to have a proper arena.

This sounds to me like a situation where the WHL has given up on Fettes + Cockell and they're trying to get them to sell the team and move it somewhere else. Because when you have a team playing out of a tiny temporary arena and they are probably struggling to get by due to their limited capacity and let's face it, fairly low demand, saddling them with a half million dollar fine could be the death blow for the organization. When 50 Below is already in the hole for X dollars, adding another $500,000 to the tab might be enough to make them walk away.

Interesting that 50 Below won't say anything about this either. I can tell you that whenever I talk to someone out of town fans about the ICE, the arena is the first thing they always ask about. I'd imagine Fettes + Cockell must get these questions on a daily basis. But they haven't spoken out publicly in over two years.

This is pretty grim news for the future of the ICE. I'm starting to think there may not be a next season, at least in Winnipeg.

 

[ps241]

This is not something you do if you are trying to encourage construction of a new arena and have the team remain in the market. For instance, I doubt Bettman and the NHL board are fining the Coyotes for failing to have a proper arena.

This sounds to me like a situation where the WHL has given up on Fettes + Cockell and they're trying to get them to sell the team and move it somewhere else. Because when you have a team playing out of a tiny temporary arena and they are probably struggling to get by due to their limited capacity and let's face it, fairly low demand, saddling them with a half million dollar fine could be the death blow for the organization. When 50 Below is already in the hole for X dollars, adding another $500,000 to the tab might be enough to make them walk away.

Interesting that 50 Below won't say anything about this either. I can tell you that whenever I talk to someone out of town fans about the ICE, the arena is the first thing they always ask about. I'd imagine Fettes + Cockell must get these questions on a daily basis. But they haven't spoken out publicly in over two years.

This is pretty grim news for the future of the ICE. I'm starting to think there may not be a next season, at least in Winnipeg.

Junior Hockey sucks as a business model unless you are one of the few "have" teams in the CHL and by few I mean few. You don't get into junior hockey ownership to make money.

Kelowna, London, and one of the Quebec teams were usually the teams that had a "for profit" enterprise. Other than that If you are doing well you break even.

 

[lanky]

This isn't a good sign, however I don't think it means it's all over and done with. This could be about the WHL putting pressure on 50 below to move forward. If friendly nudges and reminders haven't worked they might be trying some tough love. I'm suggesting that the fine could be waived if 50 below deliver an updated plan and some near term steps to begin development.

 

[RetroWinnipeg]

This is not something you do if you are trying to encourage construction of a new arena and have the team remain in the market. For instance, I doubt Bettman and the NHL board are fining the Coyotes for failing to have a proper arena.

This sounds to me like a situation where the WHL has given up on Fettes + Cockell and they're trying to get them to sell the team and move it somewhere else. Because when you have a team playing out of a tiny temporary arena and they are probably struggling to get by due to their limited capacity and let's face it, fairly low demand, saddling them with a half million dollar fine could be the death blow for the organization. When 50 Below is already in the hole for X dollars, adding another $500,000 to the tab might be enough to make them walk away.

Interesting that 50 Below won't say anything about this either. I can tell you that whenever I talk to someone out of town fans about the ICE, the arena is the first thing they always ask about. I'd imagine Fettes + Cockell must get these questions on a daily basis. But they haven't spoken out publicly in over two years.

This is pretty grim news for the future of the ICE. I'm starting to think there may not be a next season, at least in Winnipeg.

I'll question the low demand argument: even with a Jets game taking place downtown, the Ice have been selling out their grandstand seating for much of the last few weeks. You're getting a sense that the hockey fans now know about this team, that this team is really good, and they're coming into the stands. Also, not seeing as many giveaways on their socials, suggesting they aren't needing to fill those seats.

 

[jetsmooseice]

This isn't a good sign, however I don't think it means it's all over and done with. This could be about the WHL putting pressure on 50 below to move forward. If friendly nudges and reminders haven't worked they might be trying some tough love. I'm suggesting that the fine could be waived if 50 below deliver an updated plan and some near term steps to begin development.

That makes sense. The goal is to prompt some kind of action, not to punish Fettes + Cockell. But if they haven't been able to get an arena deal done in the last three years, I'm not sure what's likely to change now that inflation is driving up costs. If it was a tough thing to pull off in 2019, it's probably going to be a lot harder to do it in 2023.

I'll question the low demand argument: even with a Jets game taking place downtown, the Ice have been selling out their grandstand seating for much of the last few weeks. You're getting a sense that the hockey fans now know about this team, that this team is really good, and they're coming into the stands. Also, not seeing as many giveaways on their socials, suggesting they aren't needing to fill those seats.

That's fair. They are doing better at the gate. If you go to a weeknight game you are likely to see a decent crowd, whereas in past seasons there would have been multiple empty rows of seats. But I do get the impression that they still rely heavily on giveaways and discounts. There are always steep discounts being promoted on social media, and all the minor hockey teams and groups you see at games are generally there on free tickets. For such a small building, they do struggle to fill it up... this season there have probably only been a couple legit sellouts. I'm sure prospective investors in an arena must get second thoughts when they see pictures like this, with all the empty seats in the background:

 

[Guardian17]

WHL fines 50 Below Sports + Entertainment $500,000 for failure to build new facility in time for 2023-24 season.

Dec 2022: Opinion: No end in sight for Ice arena saga

The Western Hockey League has an arena problem in Winnipeg, resulting in a large fine for the local ownership group of the Ice.

www.winnipegfreepress.com

I went to a playoff game last season and had a great time.

However, the bench seats hurt my ass and there was only one concession stand to get food and drinks.

If the ICE want to thrive they need a new building.

 

[jetsmooseice]

I went to a playoff game last season and had a great time.

However, the bench seats hurt my ass and there was only one concession stand to get food and drinks.

If the ICE want to thrive they need a new building.

Point of order: there is a second concession area. In addition to the one at the north end of the building, there is one at the south end of the building as well, in the lobby area. There are also three other bars (one on the main concourse, two at ice level) for beverages. So it isn't too bad.

I can't help out with the bench seats, though

 

[Guardian17]

Point of order: there is a second concession area. In addition to the one at the north end of the building, there is one at the south end of the building as well, in the lobby area. There are also three other bars (one on the main concourse, two at ice level) for beverages. So it isn't too bad.

I can't help out with the bench seats, though

Didn't see them, but, thanks for the clarification.

 

[Guardian17]

 

[RetroWinnipeg]

WHL & Winnipeg Ice joint statement calling reports of half-million dollar fine as false.

The Western Hockey League and The Winnipeg ICE have issued the following statements regarding the article written by Mike Sawatzky and published by the Winnipeg Free Press on December 14, 2022 – Wenatchee Wild

winnipegice.ca

 

[jetsmooseice]

WHL & Winnipeg Ice joint statement calling reports of half-million dollar fine as false.

The Western Hockey League and The Winnipeg ICE have issued the following statements regarding the article written by Mike Sawatzky and published by the Winnipeg Free Press on December 14, 2022 – Wenatchee Wild

winnipegice.ca

Wow. Some damning accusations in that statement. But would the Free Press have reported the story as published if it was totally off base? A strange situation, if you ask me.