ALBUQUERQUE – Hello Ice Wolves fans and welcome to the latest edition of the Ice Wolves Den. This week as we enter the home stretch, the NAHL Ice Wolves are in a tense battle for a playoff spot. Only 7 points separates the last place Oklahoma Warriors and the final playoff spot, currently occupied by the Colorado Grit who are 3 points ahead of the Odessa Jackalopes. The Ice Wolves sit 4 points in front of Colorado and 7 ahead of Odessa.
The season started out rocky for the Ice Wolves, after winning the second game of the season, they went on a 10 game losing streak, immediately followed by a 9 game winning streak.
Ice Wolves Head Coach Kevin Hartzell contributed the slow start to unfamiliarity, “We didn’t have a lot of returning experience, which is a difference maker at any level and for sure in Junior hockey. That said, we had moments, like our three early season games in Corpus where we generated 120+ shots over the three games, but.scored just two goals. Lots to learn yes, but also a little unlucky early.” Hartzell continued, “We stayed true to the process of improvement. Win, lose or tie, our focus remained on getting better daily, weekly, individually and as a team. The boys did a good job of remaining focused on what matters and that’s their continual improvement.”
For the first year players, the transition to this level can be tough, but Coach Hartzell says this is where everyone can show their potential, “We talked often about how hard the first half of Junior hockey is in your first year and that players often begin to blossom the second half of their first season. We are getting many such “blossoms”. Too many to single out a few.” Hartzell said, “Jackson Fuller has been so steady for us, which facilitates confidence and the resulting blossoms. Fuller has helped plenty. I’m really proud of our boys overall.”
Now that they’re just past the half way point, they enter the playoff stretch having won 6 of their last 10. That might not seem impressive, but for a team that didn’t even look like a playoff contender early on, it’s a great sign that they’ve definitely turned things around. Behind the steadily improved scoring of Andy Earl and Ethan Hull, the breakout defense of guys like Toivo Laaksonen and Max Matthews and the amazing goalie tandem of Jack Fuller and Gavin Schahn, the Ice Wolves control their own destiny. They currently sit in 5th place, but they are only 2 points behind El Paso, catching them would mean hosting the opening round of the playoffs. Whatever happens, the next couple of months is going to be fun to watch.
The NAHL Ice continue their road trip this weekend when they travel to Greeley to take on the Grit. They return next weekend when they will be wearing special jerseys and raising money for Tunnel to Towers, a charity that is important to me as a retired Firefighter. They will also have several jerseys signed by celebrities. This is a great cause.
The 3HL Ice Wolves return home this Thursday afternoon for their annual School Day Matinee, taking on the Atlanta Capitals. Puck drop Thursday morning is 11am, Friday and Saturday night at 6:30. They have already clinched their playoff birth and can clinch second place this weekend, but mathematically first place is not out of reach, as they are 10 points behind the Louisiana Drillers with 6 games left. The Ice Wolves have this week’s 3 games against Atlanta and 3 against El Paso while Louisiana plays 3 against the Roadrunners and Brahmas. They only need 1 win to clinch the division.
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