ALBUQUERQUE – Hello Ice Wolves fans and welcome to the Ice Wolves Den. Well, the wait is almost over. We are less than a week before both Ice Wolves squads hit the ice to start the 2025-26 season. Recently the NA3HL Ice Wolves wrapped up their training camp with a trio of scrimmage games at the Outpost. Fans also got their first glimpse of new Head Coach Isaac Washburn.
With Darren Banks getting the call up to the Kenai River Brown Bears, the 3HL Ice Wolves needed a new coach, Coach Washburn was that man. He has a diverse background, “This is going to be year 14 of coaching for me, I spent 6 years in the ECHL with Kalamazoo as a video coach. Most recently I was in New Hampshire working at a hockey academy and I’ve coached high school and youth age groups.” Washburn said, “This was a great opportunity to get in with a well run, first class organization and work to advance players through the Junior and college ranks. I definitely have big shoes to fill, but for me I’ll come in and evaluate what’s worked. Right off the bat I have to build the foundation.”
At the conclusion of training camp, Coach Washburn is ready to implement what they started, “It’s going to be about building on the foundation we started in camp and hit the ground running as we get more dialed into the structure and system with the concepts of how we want our DNA built.” Washburn continued, “I’m going to lean on the veteran players like Jake Wenner and Cal Butler and work with them to make sure we’re building the right culture and making sure they’re setting the standards and the expectations on and off the ice and making sure they’re bringing the younger guys along with them.”
One thing that stood out, was the number of local players participating in training camp, something Coach Washburn was excited about, “It was great to be able to incorporate the local kids and get them involved. Having open and transparent conversations with many of them prior to training camp, alot of them were here for the experience but they also pushed our guys who were looking to make the team. It’s nice to be able to have those strong assets here locally.” Washburn said, “I think a lot of guys were what we expected and some of the guys were surprised by the pace and intensity at this level. Jake Wenner and Cal Butler both had a strong camp that set the tone and pace. Enzo Ramazzini was a work horse all weekend and he definitely turned some heads.”
NA3HL Ice Wolves open the season on the road this weekend in Amarillo against the expansion West Texas Wranglers. They’ll be on the road until the final week of October.
The NAHL Ice Wolves open the season this weekend at home taking on the always tough Amarillo Wranglers. Friday night they are giving away magnet schedules and mini sticks, Saturday is $1 hotdogs and Sunday a post game meet and greet. Friday and Saturday puck drop is 6:30 Sunday 2pm.
Photos Courtesy of Scott Adamson
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