Dear NM Ice Families,

As the 2020-21 hockey season comes close to an end, we wanted to take a minute to update you on some changes we are committed to for next season.  As in past seasons, NM Ice will offer house hockey programs for every age group and travel teams at the squirt, peewee, bantam, U16 and now U18 levels.

With the tremendous progress we have made in our NM Ice hockey program over the last several years due to having high level coaches, an increased amount of ice time and opportunities that arise from our relationship with the NAHL NM Ice Wolves, we are poised to take a big step in the evolution of our program starting next season.

For our players with 2003-4 and 2005-6 birth years, NM Ice plans to create composite teams at the AA level for the first time in our history.  Those teams will participate in the NAHL’s PHL Showcase division which means they will participate in at least 3 showcase tournaments during the season where scouts and coaches from NAHL, NA3HL teams and other leagues are in attendance to watch the teams and help them find future opportunities for individual advancement.  Both teams would also be in a position to schedule home and home series, travel to other AA tournaments and have significantly more game opportunities.

In order to have the depth required to be competitive at the AA level, both U16 and U18 will be composite teams from across the state and surrounding communities such as Durango and Telluride, as examples.  The teams will be created after a tryout camp that will be scheduled later in the year once the NM health orders allow for more flexibility.

At the same overlapping age levels, the “high school” teams in the area have enjoyed tremendous league play over the years with many travel opportunities between Albuquerque, Taos, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, El Paso, Amarillo and more. Starting next season, NM Ice will be treating its varsity and junior varsity teams more like traditional travel teams in terms of ice time and coaching.  Our hope and expectation are to be able to help bring the HS teams more into the NM Ice fold and to be able to provide a high school age experience consistent with what the players and families have come to expect from their squirt, peewee and bantam years while continuing to participate in the same league with the historical opponents.

Please feel free to share this with other families from the region with 2003-2006 birth year players and stay tuned to your email and the NM Ice and Outpost Ice Arenas websites and social media for more information.

With regard to next season’s bantam team (2007 and 2008 birth years) NM Ice is committed to also trying to create a team that can be competitive at the AA level and participate in the same PHL Showcase division as U16 and U18.  NM Ice believes that we have enough depth among New Mexico players to be able to have an AA team without the same need for a composite group of players that we’ll need with U16 and U18.  Additionally, NM Ice should be able to again have a second travel bantam team that would compete at the A or B level, as appropriate. 

As we continue to provide more and greater hockey opportunities for players of every age, ability and interest, we are fortunate to be associated with the Outpost Ice Arenas and the New Mexico Ice Wolves.  While not possible this season for obvious reasons, NM Ice Wolves NAHL players will help by bringing their enthusiasm and skills to our youth teams’ practices with a fun approach that should connect with all of our players.  We will also build on our ability to provide the most ice time of almost any youth hockey program anywhere and we will begin to introduce all of our players to the fun of off-ice training with some access to the NM Ice Wolves Hockey Speed Gym. At the older and higher levels, regular sessions in the Speed Gym will be part of the team practices throughout the season.

More information on all teams will be available as the state is able to be more open, but we wanted to share this information so that players and families can begin to think about and plan for next season.  Please feel free to reach out to any of us with questions of any kind in the meantime.

Jeff Thompson – president NM Ice

Stan Hubbard – head travel coach

Ben Danford – NM Ice coach and Outpost director of hockey

Kyle Follmer – NM Ice coach and Outpost hockey coach

Are you looking for individual or group skating lessons? 
Check out our Travel coaches who offer sessions!

 *Coach Kyle Follmer
Please contact him if you’re interested:
651-431-1013 or Kfollmer@outposticearena.com  

*Coach Ben Danford
Please contact him to set up a session:
651-343-1640 or hockeydirector@outposticearena.com

*Or Ice Wolves Assistant Coach, Jared Brown
913-626-1188 or brownjared01@gmail.com
Contact for prices and availability 

Were back in the news!  Check-out this follow-up article about our Try Hockey event.
https://www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/899782

New Mexico Ice Hockey Foundation (NMICE) is a non-profit youth hockey organization run by a volunteer Board of Directors that offer youth hockey for a variety of age groups ranging from Mites (6 and under) up through including High School and competitive travel teams.
Our office is located in the Outpost Ice Arena at 9530 Tramway Blvd Northeast in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  more info

NMICE has successfully achieved Gold Status in the 2016-17 USAH "2 and 2 Challenge".  Congratulations on your success and thank you for your continued commitment to driving youth hockey growth at the 8U level.