There is an agreement in place to sell the WHL’s Kootenay Ice, president and GM Jeff Chynoweth announced on Tuesday.
The franchise, owned by the Chynoweth family since 1995, will be sold to businessmen Greg Fettes and Matt Cockell, the former vice-president of corporate partnerships for True North Sports and Entertainment. The transfer of ownership is pending approval from the WHL board of governors.
In a press release, the team announced Cockell will be relocating to Cranbrook, B.C., where the team has been based since 1998, and will serve as president and GM. Cockell was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round in 1997 and played three WHL seasons with the Saskatoon Blades, Seattle Thunderbirds, Regina Pats and Spokane Chiefs. He is a former member of the Brandon Wheat Kings’ coaching staff.
Kootenay has failed to make the playoffs the past two seasons. In 2016–17, the team finished last in the league with a 14-46-10-2 record. They managed a franchise-worst 12 wins in 2015-16.
The Ice had never missed the post-season while in Cranbrook before that. They won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as the WHL champions in 2000, 2002 and 2011 and claimed the Memorial Cup in 2002.
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