Albuquerque’s high desert environment isn’t widely known for ice sports. However, the Outpost Ice Arena has over the last few years developed a secret society of sorts around the full spectrum of ice sports, largely due to an influx of leaders from more wintery climates. The community is secret only because so few people know about this close-knit, family-like group that gives a warm welcome to anyone of any age and ability interested in learning an ice sport.

“One of the nice things for parents is, the weather (at the Outpost) is always the same,” said owner Stan E. Hubbard. “You don’t get caught in the wind. It’s not hot. It’s not cold. It’s just very comfortable, and it becomes a big social place for families.”

The former Minnesotan took ownership of the Outpost at 9530 Tramway Blvd. NE in 2018, giving it a multi-million-dollar renovation overhaul and bringing to the arena a North American Hockey League expansion team, the New Mexico Ice Wolves. In addition to hosting games, the Outpost offers programs in figure skating, speed skating, hockey, and even curling. Northern transplants and military families accustomed to locales that are more familiar with ice sports find the rink pretty quicky, but attracting locals still requires “an outreach,” Hubbard said.

To elevate Outpost programming and increase interest in ice sports generally, Hubbard hired former Minnesota professional hockey player Ben Danford to boost hockey offerings several years ago. This spring, former Chicagoan and professional figure skater Tisha Dekeno took the lead on skating programs.

“There’s more to skating than what you see during the Olympics and what’s televised on Nationals,” said Dekeno, who oversees the Learn to Skate classes, which accept all ages. 

“My hope for the Outpost is to build a strong basics program that will teach people the fundamentals of ice sports to enable them to be great skaters in the capacity they can be, no matter the ice sport,” Dekeno said.

That includes establishing solid skating skills for children like 10-year-old Tyler Patterson who wanted to play hockey. Patterson started learning to skate in 2022 and quickly progressed to playing on a travel hockey team for the best in his age group, learning mature life skills along the way.

“He’s learning the value of hard work, having a good attitude even when things aren’t going your way, being punctual, and showing up for somebody else - finding out that life is not all about you,” said his father, Chris Patterson, who also was new to the game when his son started playing.

To give newbies further insight into the sport in Albuquerque, Outpost hockey director Ben Danford spoke at length with New Mexico Kids!:

Q: Why should a child or parent consider trying hockey over more locally familiar sports like football, baseball, or basketball?

Hockey is different than most team sports in that it’s such a face-paced game and all five players on the ice are always involved with the play. A youth hockey team is made up of 15 skaters and one goalie (give or take), and a regular shift lasts 45 seconds to 1 minute due to the pace and intensity of the competition. This allows players to be engaged and involved in a team setting more than any other sport because there is constant movement of all players. You are rarely resting or sitting on the bench longer than you need before you’re right back out for your next shift. That’s a big reason why I loved it and why I believe kids are getting more interested in hockey, even in non-traditional hockey markets like New Mexico. The difficult part is getting people that didn’t grow up around the game to come in and try it.

Q: What skills do children gain from playing hockey?

The bonds that are formed through being on a hockey team can really develop kids' leadership ability and heighten their sense of accountability because of how connected all players need to be on the ice when playing the game. As kids grow up, the need to problem-solve as a group in a fast and fluid environment becomes very important to have individual and team success. Being able to think critically as a group in a fast environment while handling the highs and lows of the game can have a positive impact on a child’s ability to persevere through tough circumstances. Having been around hockey for 30 years, I have found that one of the greatest parts of the game is the sense of family you get to when you are a part of a hockey community. 

Q: How did you end up in Albuquerque? 

I was playing professionally in the East Coast Hockey League for the Toledo Walleye, which is the minor league affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. I was planning on that being my last year playing competitively, and this opportunity to work as the Outpost hockey director was a great way to stay involved and give back to the game that had been so good to me. Hockey doesn’t immediately come to most people’s minds in this region, but there’s a passionate hockey group of people here. It’s a sneaky little hockey town, and our goal is to try to reach the Greater Albuquerque area.

Q: Is hockey a dangerous sport?

That hockey is brutal and violent is an unfair characterization. People associate it with National Hockey League fighting, but at the youth level, there’s been a really big change in the game in terms of what’s allowed physically. The rules around body contact have changed at every level in a push to make it safer.

Q: What’s the best way for local children to learn to play?  

Hockey has been a part of Albuquerque for a long time. When the Outpost Ice Arenas transitioned under new ownership of Stan and Jennifer Hubbard, we wanted to make sure we developed a positive and safe environment for kids to try all ice sports. Our goal with the Learn to Play Hockey program, which just started in 2021, is to introduce the game at an affordable price and develop the core skills in a fun environment. The program is offered in the summer and includes six hours of ice, skill instruction, and a youth starter equipment kit. Following Learn to Play we offer many other beginner hockey skills clinics that allow children to improve before the start of the season in September. The Outpost Ice Arena will offer its Learn to Play Program in June. For more information: https://www.outposticearena.com/learn-to-play-hockey/

Q: What are other easy ways to get into hockey?

• The Outpost will be hosting a Try Hockey for Free event from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 20. Registration will be available soon on the Outpost website, https://www.outposticearena.com/.
• The NHL's Arizona Coyotes Little Howler program will be operating a Learn to Play Hockey program at the Outpost Ice Arena on Tuesday and Thursday evenings May 14-30. Little Howlers Hockey is an on-ice youth hockey program hosted in cooperation with the Arizona Coyotes Hockey Development Program, the National Hockey League, USA Hockey, and local hockey rinks. The program consists of six (6) one-hour sessions designed to provide ages 5-11 a risk-free introduction to the sport of hockey, complete with an extensive set of equipment for $249. Registration coming soon at https://youth.arizonacoyotes.com/littlehowlers.
• The Outpost also offers sled hockey, a sport that integrates with any player’s mobility limitations. Players of all ages can compete by using sleds to travel across the ice. Shortened hockey sticks with a metal pick allow the player to push the sled. For more information on this program, visit https://www.outposticearena.com/hockey/sled-hockey/ or call 907-229-3676.