WHL fines Winnipeg Ice half a million dollars
The Western Hockey League has levied a hefty fine against one of its teams. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, the Winnipeg Ice have been fined $500,000 for not meeting one of the terms of the relocation of the club from Cranbrook, B.C.
When the team was moved four years ago, the Ice ownership promised the league it would be playing in a new arena by the start of the 2023-24 season. The league notes work has not even started on a new facility, and there would be no way to finish a new one by 2023 at this point, leading to the fine.
The Winnipeg Press states plans were in place to build a new arena adjacent to the Rink Training Centre in downtown Winnipeg, but fell through once COVID came around in late 2019. The team decided to extend its lease at Wayne Fleming Arena, a facility the WHL had already deemed too old, small, and generally unfit for major-junior hockey.
The Ice are owned by 50 Below Sports + Entertainment Inc., which purchased the team in 2017.
Source: Winnipeg Free Press
Top 10 latest hockey stories
