Edmonton Ice

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Edmonton Ice

City:	Edmonton, Alberta
League:	Western Hockey League
Operated:	1996-98
Home Arena:	Northlands Agricom
Colours:	Blue, Gold, Black & White
Franchise history
1996-1998:	Edmonton Ice
1998-Present:	Kootenay Ice

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 will return to Edmonton again in 2007 with a third incarnation of the Edmonton Oil Kings to be owned by, rather than opposed by, the Oilers.

Notable Edmonton Ice alumni include Jay Henderson, Steve McCarthy, Jarret Stoll, Kyle Wanvig and Jeremy Yablonski.