ALBUQUERQUE – Hello Ice Wolves fans and welcome to another edition of the Ice Wolves Den. This week I will feature the Voice of the NAHL Ice Wolves, Jason Thomas.
Jason grew up in a market that is more known for football than hockey, “I grew up just north of the Dallas area, Denton, McKinney, Frisco, Aubrey. Hockey was my favorite sport growing up. I got into it funny enough because of goal horns. I thought it was the coolest thing ever that there was a loud horn after you scored a goal.” Jason said, “Nobody in my family appeared as really big hockey fans, so it was really my favorite sport and my own thing I got to do.”
It took Jason some time to realize broadcasting was his future, “I knew I wanted to be in sports, I’m very passionate about it and I love it. I got out of high school, messed around in college a bit. Eventually I decided to go back and get my degree in broadcasting. I got an internship with the Allen Americans of the ECHL. When COVID hit and things started opening up in Texas, that’s when the Ice Wolves played all of their games in Texas at NYTEX, the Brahmas home.” Jason continued. “The Ice Wolves called my boss because Phil Fox played for the Americans. They asked if he had anybody who could do games and he told them he had an intern with no experience but would love an opportunity. Stan Hubbard gave me that opportunity. I was that intern and the rest is history. I love to talk, I know stats. I even kept my own stats watching Dallas Stars games when I was younger. I thought I’d be an analyst like one of those guys on NHL on TNT and breakdown what’s going on. When I started the internship I thought maybe I’ll be a color commentator so I could talk during the game, then I was given the opportunity to call one game and I knew play by play was what I’m going to do with my life.”
Jason, like most transplants, found the transition to Albuquerque was not easy, but he’s learned a lot and can answer the biggest question. Red, Green or Christmas, “Moving here was tough. Albuquerque is not Dallas in any shape or form. Altitude is a real thing, I always thought that it was just blown up when I was younger, it wasn’t a real thing, until I came here after that first season. Just walking up the stairs I was winded and that never happened. Just walking up a flight of stairs I understood that this is what they meant by altitude.” Jason said, “On the flip side, I’ve learned a lot about the New Mexican culture, I learned what New Mexican food was versus Tex-Mex. People asked if I liked Mexican food and I’d say I love it, but I was used to Tex-Mex, but the food here is totally different. I learned quickly that I am a green chile guy, not a red chile guy. Christmas confuses my brain, I haven’t tried it yet. I’m sure I will eventually. For those not from here, Christmas is a mix of red chile and green chile. It’s a big adjustment but I love it. I’ve never lived at the base of mountains before. I’m on my own out here, I left my family and friends back in Dallas and I’ve had to make new friends here.”
Jason answered another burning question, Whataburger or Blake’s, “Whataburger, hands down, it’s in my blood, I’ve had it since I was born. Whataburger is decent here, but it’s just different in Texas. Any time we go on the road through Texas, I always find one and make sure to get that good home field meal in me.”
One thing Jason admires most here is the fan base, “I love them, I don’t come from a traditional hockey market, it’s even less of a traditional market here. I was wondering if Albuquerque even knows what hockey is, even if the answer is no, once they come to a game they’re hooked. These fans are dedicated here. The only professional teams here are New Mexico United soccer and the Isotopes, the UNM Lobos get a good following.” Jason continued, “Just to see how strong our fan base is, I can’t drive anywhere in Albuquerque, downtown, up by the mountain, I see an Ice Wolves sticker or an Ice Wolves license plate. Every single time, it never fails. I know it’s cliche to say our fans are the best in the league, I honestly believe the best fans are here in Albuquerque. They’re passionate, they’re loyal, they’re loud. They ride the highs and lows with us and that’s what you want out of a fan base.”
Nothing is bigger to Jason than having his family’s support, “My family buys NATV just to watch and hear me call the games. I’ll get texts of calls after almost every game. I’ll get random calls throughout the week just to ask how the team is doing. When we go play Lone Star, that’s the closest team to them, anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, we play at least 2 games and all of my family and friends always make at least a game every time.” Jason continued, “They will always sit right next to me and listen to me call the game. They always say ‘I don’t know how you do it but you’re really good.’ I appreciate it, I couldn’t do this without my family’s support. It pushes me to keep going. Wherever I end up next, no matter where that is, I know my family has my back and that means the most to me. The greatest moment of my life so far was hearing my parents tell me they’re proud of me, there’s no better feeling in the world.”
This past weekend the NA3HL Ice Wolves took 2 of 3 from the Austin Ice Bats, dropping the opener Friday 2-1, but rebounding Saturday and Sunday winning 4-1 and 6-1. The NAHL squad split a pair in Odessa, losing Friday 4-1, but turning the tables Saturday with a 4-1 victory of their own. The real adventure was their trip home, when flooding in the Roswell area turned a 6 hour bus ride into a nearly 16 hour trip. They made it home just in time Sunday to help cheer the 3HL squad to victory. The 3HL Ice Wolves are off this weekend before making the trip to Austin for a rematch with the Ice Bats, while the NAHL squad heads next weekend to Oklahoma City to take on the Warriors. You can hear Jason Thomas call the action on NATV. The NAHL Ice Wolves are home for the first time in over a month on November 1st taking on the Oklahoma Warriors and they will be celebrating Dia De Los Muertos.
Photos courtesy of the New Mexico Ice Wolves
