ALBUQUERQUE – Hello Ice Wolves fans and welcome to the latest edition of the Ice Wolves Den. This week we feature one of the newest NA3HL Ice Wolves, Jacob Kahle.
Hockey wasn’t Jacob’s original sport, “I grew up actually wrestling because of my Dad. We had a junior team in my hometown, so that’s why I started playing hockey and I’ve been playing for about 13-14 years now.” Kahle said, “In hockey my biggest influence has to be my old coach Justin Kirchhevel, I’ve looked up to him since I started hockey. He’s been a big part of me moving on past High School.”
Ice Wolves Head Coach Darren Banks is pleased with Jacob’s work ethic, “He came from a very successful High School program in South Dakota, they won four straight State Championships. He was a big part of it, he was a leader and wore a letter. He came in with good offensive upside and a great work ethic. He’s an iron man in the way he prepares on and off the ice. He takes film seriously and he wants to learn. You don’t have the success he’s had without a sustained level of dedication.” Banks said, “He hasn’t scored yet, but in terms of that stuff, what matters is if he’s generating opportunities. Goal scoring, sometimes you can’t miss and sometimes it just doesn’t go for you. That’s why you want depth on your team, but you want to make sure you’re generating chances. Eventually that dam is going to break and he’ll be doing just fine.”
Jacob says the team feels like family, “I never thought I’d be so close with a group of guys in such a short amount of time, I love every single one of them. We saw Whitesell take a puck to the face a few weeks ago for the team, we all love each other like family.” Kahle said, “The fans are amazing, we hear them chanting on the bench and the kids are always waiting for us to come onto the ice. Like I said, we had a junior team in my hometown, I look at the kids and I see myself 10 years ago, it’s amazing to give back. I have an amazing host family here, it’s unbelievable. Their boys Joshua and Zack, I never had brothers, I have two sisters, I love those little guys.”
Both teams are off for their Holiday break, this past weekend the NAHL Ice Wolves split a pair on the road against the Lone Star Brahmas. They will be back home next Monday and Tuesday January 30th and 31st, puck drop 6:30.
Due to the Ice Wolves playing next Monday, there will be no Ice Wolves Den next week.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from everyone at Pro Hockey News.
Photos courtesy of Scott Adamson.
