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The University of New Mexico Hockey Club was chartered as a school sport in 2009 after having been just an organized way for adults to play hockey in years prior.
Many other teams overlook UNM hockey and give it no regard, said head coach Grant Harvey Jr.
“I want a ranked team and to continue to shock schools,” he said. “We continue to get no respect and humble opponents throughout the year.”
Harvey said people enjoy hockey because it requires a combination of skills that aren’t common and that require constant honing.
“It has aspects of every game out there; I can find a correlation from almost every sport to hockey,” he said. “Many players are multi-sport athletes, and it shows.”
The team practices at Outpost Ice Arena three times a week, where home games are played, usually on Fridays and Saturdays.
Each player on the team pays fees at the beginning of every year.
These fees range from $750-$1,000 depending on how much money the school is able to give the team.
Those fees cover ice time, referees, jerseys, hotels and other travel expenses.
“We all get 10 season tickets to sell for $50 each, which would help with our team fees,” said the team captain, senior Julian Chavez.
Hockey requires the basics in order to play: skates, shin pads, pants, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, helmet and stick.
It is played with five skaters on the ice at a time with one goalie.
“During a game, a team is only allowed to dress 20 players, including goalies,” said Chavez. “Usually it is two goalies and 18 skaters.”
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The UNM Hockey Club recruits from local high schools and other teams composed of high school players from around the state.
“Other than that, it is just word of mouth and people finding out we have a hockey team,” Chavez said.
Chavez has been playing hockey for 16 years.
“My dad took me to a New Mexico Scorpions game when I was five and I was hooked from then on,” he said. “I have played my whole life because it is my passion … The team itself is a close-knit group of guys that treat each other like family.”
Chavez said it is a hobby for most of them and none plan on playing professionally. They all intend to get degrees and move on after college, he said.
UNM hockey has gained national recognition and has been ranked as high as fourth in the nation at one point, Harvey said.
The UNM hockey team is in the Pacific Region and plays schools from all over the West including Texas Tech, Northern Arizona University and Metro State University.
“Our two toughest opponents are Northern Arizona University and Metro State University (of Denver),” Chavez said. “NAU is by far one of our biggest rivals, so they are always a team we look forward to playing.”
Harvey said the ability to coach hockey isn’t the only thing he wants his players to get out of the experience.
“I want to make men out of them,” he said. “Their first obligation is to receive grades, but I would like to know these kids grew character and made themselves examples for their community.”
The hockey team is currently 4-2 on the season with wins against Northern Arizona, Metro State and two against Texas Tech.
