| Wenatchee Wild | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Wenatchee, Washington |
| League | Western Hockey League |
| Conference | Western |
| Division | U.S. |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Home arena | Town Toyota Center |
| Colors | Blue, black, and white |
| Owner(s) | David White |
| General manager | Bliss Littler |
| Head coach | Don Nachbaur[1] |
| Media | NewsRadio 560KPQ |
| Website | chl |
| Franchise history | |
| 1996–1998 | Edmonton Ice |
| 1998–2019 | Kootenay Ice |
| 2019–2023 | Winnipeg Ice |
| 2023–present | Wenatchee Wild |
| Current uniform | |
 | |
TheWenatchee Wild are an American majorjunior ice hockey team based inWenatchee, Washington, and playing in theWestern Hockey League. Founded in 1996 as theEdmonton Ice, the franchise was known as theWinnipeg Ice from 2019 until 2023, when it was purchased and relocated to Wenatchee ahead of the2023–24 season. The Wild play in the U.S. Division of the WHL's Western Conference, hosting games at theTown Toyota Center.
The Wild franchise originated as the Edmonton Ice, a WHL expansion team added in 1996. After two years in Edmonton, the original Ice moved toCranbrook, British Columbia—which would be one of the smallest cities in the league—and became theKootenay Ice. After two decades in Cranbrook, which included three league championships and aMemorial Cup title, the team relocated toWinnipeg in 2019.[2] However, with the Ice playing in the league's smallest venue on theUniversity 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 theBritish Columbia Hockey League'sWenatchee 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, theSeattle Thunderbirds,Everett Silvertips,Spokane Chiefs, andTri-City Americans, as well as thePortland Winterhawks.[6]
On July 13, 2023, the team announced thatKevin Constantine—a former Silvertips andNational 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 hiredRoy Sommer, who holds the record for the most coaching wins in theAmerican 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 theKelowna Rockets in the first round. The Rockets prevailed in the series, eliminating Wenatchee in six games.[11]
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | 68 | 34 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 249 | 268 | 72 | 3rd U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarterfinal |
| 2024–25 | 68 | 23 | 36 | 8 | 1 | 207 | 253 | 55 | 6th U.S. | Did not qualify |
