The Western Hockey League's Kootenay Ice will relocate to Winnipeg before the start of the 2019-20 season.
The league officially announced the move at a media conference in Cranbrook on Tuesday.
The Ice have been playing in Cranbrook since moving to the British Columbia Interior from Edmonton in 1998. The team won the WHL championship and Memorial Cup in 2002 and also won league titles in 2000 and 2011.
"The WHL appreciates the support we have received from the City of Cranbrook, the corporate community, and, in particular, hockey fans in the East Kootenay region," commissioner Ron Robison said. "However, after many years of monitoring the operations of the Kootenay ICE, it is evident this franchise is not viable in the market moving forward.
"It is a difficult decision, but given low attendance trends and the support required to operate a WHL Club, it is necessary to move the franchise to a market where it can be sustainable on a long-term basis."
Major junior hockey will return to Winnipeg for the first time since the Warriors relocated to Moose Jaw, Alta., in 1984.
A press conference was held in Winnipeg Tuesday afternoon with officials from the league.
“I’m truly excited for the opportunity bring the WHL to the Winnipeg market,” said Greg Fettes, 50 Below Sports + Entertainment Chairman and ICE Governor in a release.
“The Winnipeg ICE are part of a much larger commitment to hockey development in Winnipeg and a significant real estate development in the south end of the city,” said Fettes.
The Winnipeg ICE will play their first two seasons at the Wayne Fleming Arena at the University of Manitoba, before moving into their own rink.
“The partnership with the university will see a number of exciting capital improvements to the facility including a video scoreboard installed prior to the start of the 2019-2020 season,” said Matt Cockell, ICE President and General Manager.
Fettes said a 4,500 seat event centre will be built over the coming years, where the team will play home games, and noted more information on development plans will come over the next several months.
The Ice franchise will join a saturated hockey market in Winnipeg, which includes the NHL's Jets and the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.
Season tickets deposits will be available Wednesday at 9 a.m. The league said a $50 non-refundable deposit will put fans on a priority list for season seat membership and will reserve their place. It said seats will be selected in order of that list, and the deposit will go towards the purchase of the tickets.
Season ticket pricing has yet to be announced.
-With files from The Canadian Press
