by Travis Weber
Daily Lobo
It's hockey season in New Mexico again, and with the absence of the Scorpions this year, members of the UNM Ice Wolves said they want to take center stage.
"We really want to be successful so that we can build the program, and so that we can draw some crowds to our home games this year, since we will be the biggest hockey ticket in town," head coach Joel Cormier said.
The Ice Wolves, a club team at UNM, kick off its season on the road this weekend in Austin, Texas, at the Southern Methodist University Invitational tournament. Austin is the same place the Wolves started last season, opening up 0-2 against the hometown University of Texas Longhorns.
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"This year is going to be different though," senior left wing Billy Cottle said. "We are much deeper and fundamentally sound."
The Ice Wolves have a new coach this year in Cormier. He's a doctorate student at UNM and originally from Prince Edward Island, Canada. He has coached Triple-A hockey for years. Several of his past players are playing Division I hockey, with a few playing at the pro level as well.
"He has a very driven attitude for this team's success," Cottle said. "He comes very prepared."
Cormier said he will not know exactly what to think of his team until this weekend when he can compare it to the competition.
"We have depth," he said. "I think that will help us this season, and our defense is very solid."
Cormier said one of his goals is to give the team some organization.
"I'm just trying to bring some organized practices to the team," Cormier said. "We want to develop a real college-style program here."
Starting its training a month ago, the team has practiced two nights per week since then. The Wolves sacrifice sleep to go to practice at 11 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the players give up sleeping-in privileges on Saturdays to endure a dry-land training schedule.
As for the upcoming fall season, the team has a complete schedule stacked with heavy competition, Cormier said.
"We already have 18 games scheduled for the fall semester coming against 11 very worthy opponents," he said.
The team's goal is to make a name for itself and represent UNM in the American Collegiate Hockey Association tournament in San Jose, Calif., this fall.
This weekend will be a good measuring stick for the Ice Wolves. The team starts the season Friday against Texas A&M before facing the University of Texas on Saturday evening. The Wolves close up with tournament host SMU on Sunday.
The team will play eight games on the road before returning for their first game at home on Oct. 28 against Texas Tech.
