The NAHL’s New Mexico Ice Wolves announced today that the NA3HL has approved a membership for a new team to begin play in Albuquerque starting with the 2022-23 season.

The new NA3HL Ice Wolves will play in the NA3HL’s South Division in 2022-23 and will play out of the Outpost Ice Arenas where the NAHL’s Ice Wolves play.

“This is an exciting step for the NA3HL as we feel the Ice Wolves organization will help the new team thrive and grow under the established and visionary leadership of Stan Hubbard,” said NA3HL commissioner Blake MacNicol. “In a very short period of time, he has been able to turn the NAHL’s Ice Wolves into one of the premier teams in the NAHL, and with the type of opportunity that the NA3HL provides, we feel like the team is in great hands for next season and beyond. In addition, several of the youth Ice Wolves teams have taken part in NAPHL events, so this now completes the full ladder of development of the organization, which is something that enables our member teams’ players and coaches to grow from the grass roots level to the NCAA and beyond.”

Hubbard is no stranger to the NAHL family of leagues. He is the owner and governor of the Ice Wolves, who have been a part of the NAHL since the 2019-20 season. The Ice Wolves are currently in first place in the NAHL’s South Division and lead the league with a record of 32-12-3. The team was named the NAHL’s Organization of the Year during their expansion season in 2019-20.

“The New Mexico Ice Wolves entry into the NAHL has been instrumental in helping us build a growing youth hockey program with more opportunities and solid development at every level in Albuquerque and throughout the state,” said Hubbard. “The addition of an NA3HL team to the mix will provide new opportunities for our homegrown higher-end players that strive to play in the NAHL and ultimately NCAA college hockey and beyond. The ladder of development that the NAHL has created really works and we are proud to be an even bigger part of this incredible family of hockey leagues.”

The NA3HL team will play at the Outpost and will share all facilities, including the team’s world-class Hockey Speed Gym that was created by USA Hockey legend Jack Blatherwick, and unique training rinks that combine to provide players on both teams, and the local youth teams, some of the best ice hockey training, development tools and facilities anywhere.

The organization expects to name a new head coach of the NA3HL team soon.

(March 4, 2022)