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New Mexico Ice Wolves
CityAlbuquerque, New Mexico
LeagueNorth American Hockey League
North American 3 Hockey League
DivisionSouth
Founded2019
Home arenaOutpost Ice Arenas
ColorsYellow, red, turquoise[1]
     
Owner(s)Desert Ice Investment, LLC
Head coachPhil Fox[2]
Franchise history
NAHL franchise
2019–presentNew Mexico Ice Wolves
NA3HL franchise
1998–2014Flint Jr. Generals
2014–2018La Crosse Freeze
2018–2020Coulee Region Chill
2020–2021Oklahoma City Jr. Blazers
2021–2022Oklahoma City Ice Hawks
2022–presentNew Mexico Ice Wolves

The New Mexico Ice Wolves are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The Wolves play their home games in the Outpost Ice Arenas in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

History

On February 28, 2019, the NAHL board of governors announced that they had approved the membership application for a team in New Mexico owned by Desert Ice Investment, LLC and that the team would start play in the 2019–20 season as a member of the South Division.[3] Their inaugural season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the team had already been eliminated from playoff contention with 31 points in 52 games played. The team still won several postseason accolades such as Southern Division Organization of the Year and the NAHL's overall Organization of the Year.[4][5] The following season, the team was forced to play home games in Texas due to the pandemic restrictions in New Mexico.[6]

In 2022, the Ice Wolves added a Tier III junior team of the same name in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL).[7]

Season-by-season records

NAHL

Season GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs
2019–20 52 13 34 2 3 31 105 190 6th of 7, South
24th of 26, NAHL		 Season cancelled
2020–21 56 21 30 3 2 47 147 184 5th of 6, South
19th of 23, NAHL		 Did not qualify
2021–22 60 38 16 2 3 81 193 145 2nd of 8, South
4th of 29, NAHL		 Won Div. Semifinals, 3–2 vs. Wichita Falls Warriors
Won Div. Finals, 3–2 vs. Lone Star Brahmas
Lost League Semifinals, 1–2 vs. New Jersey Titans
2022–23 60 33 23 3 1 70 195 170 5th of 8, South
10th of 29, NAHL		 Did not qualify

NA3HL

Season GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs
2022–23 47 27 18 2 0 56 197 122 4th of 8, South
15 of 34, NA3HL		 Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Texas RoadRunners
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Texas Jr. Brahmas

References

  1. ^ "Ice Wolves unveil new logo". NAHL. April 22, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  2. ^ "New Mexico names Phil Fox as first head coach". NAHL. March 4, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  3. ^ "NAHL team in New Mexico approved for the 2019–20 season". NAHL. February 28, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  4. ^ "Ice Wolves are excited about post season accolades and the future". KRQE. April 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "NAHL announces 2019–20 season awards". NAHL. April 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "Ice Wolves adapt to playing away from home". OA Online. March 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "NA3HL announces new team in Albuquerque, New Mexico". NA3HL. March 4, 2022.

External links


North American Hockey League
Sports teams based in New Mexico
Categories