The WHL announced its regular season schedule on Tuesday, June 27. Last year we saw the return of interconference play, with the Central Division visiting the US Division and the East Division visiting the BC Division. This year, it’s the East Division’s turn to make the trip out to the US Division. The move to Wenatchee will see the Wild, previously known as the Winnipeg ICE, taking on a number of their previous rivals only once this season. Below is a breakdown of the Wenatchee Wild’s regular season schedule, team by team.
Brandon Wheat Kings
Last year, when the Wild were the ICE and in the Eastern Conference, they played the Brandon Wheat Kings ten times, winning each game played. Their move to the Western Conference means they’ll only see Brandon once this season; that game will be on October 21, 2023. If the Wild follow the trend they set last year, Brandon’s visit to Wenatchee will be a positive one for the Wild.
Calgary Hitmen
The ICE saw the Calgary Hitmen four times last year. They won all four games played against them, with the highest score differential being an 8-2 victory. The Wild will journey to Calgary to take on the Hitmen once this year in a game on Friday, February 23, 2024.
Edmonton Oil Kings
Part of the Wild’s trip to the Central Division will include one game against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday, February 25, 2024. Last season, they played against the Oil Kings four times, winning all four. The closest game was a 5-4 win in overtime; the highest-scoring game was a 10-1 win.
Everett Silvertips
The ICE only played the Everett Silvertips once last season, winning 5-4. This season, they’ll be division rivals, and it’s going to be interesting to see just how tight that rivalry will be. The Wild play the Silvertips eight times: Friday, September 29 (away), Friday, October 27 (away), Sunday, December 17 (home), Sunday, January 14 (home), Sunday, February 4 (away), Friday, February 9 (home), Friday, February 16 (home), and the last game of the regular season, Saturday, March 23 (away).
Kamloops Blazers
Last year, as an East Division team, the Winnipeg ICE traveled out to the BC Division to take on the Kamloops Blazers only once, in a 5-3 win. This season, as the Wild, they’ll take them on four times, two home and two away: Sunday, October 8 (away), Tuesday, October 24 (home), Tuesday, January 16 (home), and Friday, February 2 (away).
Kelowna Rockets
Just like with the Blazers, the ICE saw the Kelowna Rockets only once last season, coming out on top with a 5-4 win. Also, like the Blazers, the Wild will play against the Rockets four times this season: Saturday, September 30 (away), Saturday, October 28 (home), Wednesday, November 29 (away), and Saturday, January 6 (home).
Lethbridge Hurricanes
The usual four games against the Lethbridge Hurricanes have been dropped down to only one. Of the four games played against the Hurricanes last season, they won two and lost two. This year, they will travel out to Lethbridge to take them on November 10, 2023.
Medicine Hat Tigers
A day later, on November 11, 2023, the Wild will take on the Medicine Hat Tigers, a team they beat three out of four times last year. In the first round of the 2022-23 playoffs, the ICE swept the Tigers in a 4-0 series.
Moose Jaw Warriors
The ICE played the Moose Jaw Warriors six times last season, coming out on top three times, including one shutout courtesy of goaltender Mason Beaupit. In the second round of the playoffs, the Warriors handed the ICE their first playoff losses, making it to Game 6 before the ICE eventually won the series 4-2.
The Warriors will be visiting Wenatchee once this season on Sunday, March 3.
Portland Winterhawks
A new rival for the Wild, the Portland Winterhawks played and lost 6-3, once against the ICE last season. This season, they’ll meet six times: the first of the season, Friday, September 22 (home), Friday, December 1 (home), Saturday, December 2 (away), Wednesday, December 13 (away), Saturday, March 9 (away), and Saturday, March 16 (home).
Prince Albert Raiders
The Prince Albert Raiders will be in town one time to play against the Wild on Sunday, November 19. Last season, a more regular rival for the ICE, they played each other six times, the ICE winning all six.
Prince George Cougars
Last season, the Winnipeg ICE played, and won 4-1 against the Prince George Cougars once. This season, they’ll see each other four times: Friday, October 6 (away), Saturday, October 7 (away), Friday, December 15 (home), and Sunday, January 28 (home).
Red Deer Rebels
As a part of the road trip out to the Central Division, the Wild will take on the Red Deer Rebels once this season on Saturday, February 23. Last season, the ICE beat the Rebels all four times they played each other.
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats beat the ICE once out of the six games played against them last season. This year, the Pats will play against the Wild in Wenatchee once on Wednesday, February 28.
Saskatoon Blades
The ICE beat the Saskatoon Blades four out of six times last season. The largest score differential was three goals; the closest games were 2-1 Winnipeg in overtime and a 3-2 Saskatoon win. However, in the third round of the playoffs, the ICE swept the Blades 4-0 after the Blades had reverse-swept the Red Deer Rebels the round prior.
This season, the Blades will come out to Wenatchee to take on the Wild in one game, scheduled for Tuesday, November 21.
Seattle Thunderbirds
While the Seattle Thunderbirds are a new division rival for the Wild, they’re definitely the most familiar out of all the teams in the US Division. The ICE saw the Thunderbirds in the last round of the 2023 playoffs, coming up just short of the WHL Championship. Despite the ICE winning the regular season, they couldn’t beat Seattle in the playoffs. Seeing them take each other on regularly this season will be exciting, especially for Thunderbirds fans looking to prevail again. The Wild will have a chance, as a team with a new identity, to prove them wrong.
In their one game of the regular season last year, Seattle beat Winnipeg 4-3 in overtime. This year, they’ll play each other six times: Saturday, September 23 (home), Friday, October 13 (away), Sunday, December 31 (home), Sunday, January 21 (away), Friday, January 26 (home), and Wednesday, February 14 (away).
Spokane Chiefs
The ICE beat the Spokane Chiefs 6-3 in their solo game last season. This year, they’ll see them a grand total of eight times: Saturday, November 18 (away), Friday, November 24 (home), Sunday, December 10 (away), Wednesday, December 27 (away), Saturday, January 20 (home), Tuesday, February 20 (home), Friday, March 15 (home), and Sunday, March 17 (away).
Swift Current Broncos
The Wild will take on the Swift Current Broncos once this season on Wednesday, November 8. Last season, the ICE won three of the four games played against the Broncos, including a 5-0 shutout.
Tri-City Americans
The ICE won 5-4 over the Tri-City Americans in the one game they played against them last season. This season, Tri-City is one of the teams to take on Wenatchee eight times: Wednesday, October 18 (away), Wednesday, November 15 (home), Friday, November 17 (away), Sunday, December 3 (home), Saturday, December 9 (away), Wednesday, January 24 (home), Wednesday, February 7 (home), and Friday, March 8 (away).
Vancouver Giants
The only time the ICE saw the Vancouver Giants last year was in a 4-3 win. This season, they’ll play against them four times: Sunday, October 1 (away), Friday, October 20 (home), Friday, November 3 (home), and Saturday, February 10 (away).
Victoria Royals
The Wild will face off against the Victoria Royals four times this season: Saturday, November 4 (home), Thursday, December 28 (home), Wednesday, March 20 (away), and Friday, March 22 (away). Last season, the ICE won 3-2 over the Royals in the one game played against them.
Overall
The Winnipeg ICE was the winningest team in the league last year with an impressive 57 wins, only 10 losses, and 115 points. They won 13 of their 19 playoff games played, making it to the WHL Championship Finals before being knocked out by the Seattle Thunderbirds. This year, with the acquisition by the Wenatchee Wild, they’ll see a new coaching staff and a number of roster moves. The question of how drastically these changes will affect their success will only be answered after the season starts in late September.
