By Charles Lefebvre

Tigers speak out on ICE moving to Winnipeg

Jan 31, 2019 | 3:00 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Tigers have responded to the news they will be travelling to a new destination next season.

This week, the Kootenay ICE and the Western Hockey League confirmed the ICE would be moving to Winnipeg at the start of the 2019-2020 season.

As a result, the Swift Current Broncos will be moving from the Eastern Division to the Central Division to adjust to the changes.

“It is what it is,” said team captain James Hamblin earlier this week. “The only thing that is going to change for us is that Swift’s now in our division, so that’s really the only thing that matters to me.”

Hamblin adds the changes to the division could strengthen the rivalry between the two clubs.

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“The last couple of years have been a bit of a rivalry, for sure,” he said. “They had a really good team last year, but (there’s) definitely one brewing for sure.”

Jaxon Steele also spoke about the changes coming for next season.

“It obviously sucks for the town of Cranbrook, but I think a team in Winnipeg is going to be pretty cool,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough bus ride for us some days, but obviously we’re going to be on a road trip to Brandon first, so it’s not going to be that bad. I think it’s going to be pretty cool in Winnipeg, and I heard they’re building a new arena, so it’s obviously going to be pretty cool.”

The ICE will be the first WHL team in Winnipeg since the Warriors, who relocated to Moose Jaw in 1984. The team will play their first two seasons at the Wayne Fleming Arena at the University of Manitoba, according to a release from the WHL.