Although they didn’t end with a Championship, this season for the NA3HL Ice Wolves had to be considered a success. They started off slow, dropping 2 of their first 3 on the road against the Louisiana Drillers. They would open their home schedule with the raising of their first banner, for winning the South Division Regular Season and capped the weekend with a sweep of the El Paso Rhinos, showing more consistency and starting a stretch where they won 6 of their next 8, before what was arguably their biggest weekend of the entire season.
With Head Coach Darren Banks out of town for a wedding, Assistant Coach Alex “Gilly” Gilbert would step up to steer the ship against their bitter rivals, the Texas Brahmas. They would kick off the weekend with a tightly fought 3-1 victory, followed by a dominating 6-2 win. Sunday afternoon would easily turn out to be the biggest and most exciting game of the season. Trailing 3-1 late in the third, Gilly would pull the goaltender and with 56 seconds left, the crowd was given hope as the Ice Wolves pulled within one. It would be Albuquerque native Jake Wenner sending the Outpost into a mild frenzy when he deposited the tying goal with less than a second left. Then, just 1:29 into overtime, Easton Armstrong would find Koen Burkholder streaking up the left side all alone and he would bury the game winner sending the crowd into full blown mayhem. The cliche that you couldn’t hear yourself think doesn’t do the eruption from the fans justice. That moment was easily one of the loudest moments I have ever personally experienced in that building.
Not only was that a massive statement for the Ice Wolves, but it was the beginning of another 6 game winning streak. They would soon announce to the entire league that they were a contender, later in the season at the showcase, when they swept the Alexandria Blizzard, Northeast Generals and Great Falls Americans, all 3 being eventual playoff teams. During that stretch, the Ice Wolves were in the middle of what would be a 9 game winning streak and an 11 game point streak.
The Ice Wolves would finish the season with the same points total as last season, 78, finishing second in the South Division to the Louisiana Drillers. They would end up hosting the Brahmas for the second straight season in Division Finals. It wouldn’t even be close, as they avoided the drama from earlier in the season by sweeping the Brahmas 5-2 and 2-0, setting up another rematch from last season, the Drillers in the Division Finals. It would be another pair of close matchups, but in the end the Drillers won the Division for the second straight, but there were no tears from the Ice Wolves, as they would secure the Wild Card and their first trip to the Fraser Cup in St. Louis.
They opened the Round Robin round by taking on a very tough West Bend Power. Callahan Butler would open the scoring just 2:00 in, but West Bend wasted no time, tying it up at 4:45. Kyle Mackintosh would put New Mexico back on top just over 2:00 later. Issa Murakami would put them up by 2 with the lone second period goal, but West Bend refused to go quietly, scoring twice in the third, sending it to overtime where Cal Butler would bookend the scoring giving the Ice Wolves a 4-3 victory.
New Mexico would close out the Round Robin round by facing the defending Fraser Cup Champion Helena Bighorns. There would be no drama here though, as New Mexico punched their ticket to a Semi Finals with a 4-2 victory, led by Jack Arnold, Kyle Mackintosh, Max Arlt and Jake Wenner, setting up a rematch with the Louisiana Drillers.
Louisiana would jump in front early, starting just 27 seconds in, eventually staking an early 3-0 lead. Braeden Whitesell would get the Ice Wolves on the board in the first, but ultimately Louisiana would end the first period up 4-1, extending it to 5-1 entering the third. Jake Wenner would close the gap early in the third, but it would remain 5-2 until the final minutes when New Mexico would refuse to go quietly. Connor Hanley would make it 5-3 with 1:39 left and with 26 seconds left, Braeden Whitesell would put the Ice Wolves within 1. They would mount a late frenzy, but unfortunately it would not be enough as the Drillers took the victory, ultimately winning the Fraser Cup.
Coach Banks has said in interviews that they deserved to be in the Fraser Cup tournament and these is no doubt that is true. This team up and down the lineup clawed their way through the season and earned their spot there. Every fan who has stepped through the doors of the Outpost to watch them play, couldn’t be more proud of what they accomplished. Congratulations Ice Wolves on a phenomenal season.
The Ice Wolves also handed out their team awards. Congratulations to the award winners.
Most Improved Player: Callahan Butler
Iron Men for playing in all 47 regular season games: Jake Wenner are Edward Gregorin
Leadership Award: Carson Gotelaere and Liam Mooney
Culture and Compete Award: Issa Murakami
Rookie of the Year: Jack Williams
Most Valuable Player: Kyle Mackintosh
Photos Courtesy of Scott Adamson and Francesca Cicconetti
