New Mexico

New Mexico is a state in the southwestern United States.

Its population is about 2,120,000.

The capital is Santa Fe and the largest city is Albuquerque.

History of hockey in New Mexico

The Albuquerque Ice Arena opened in 1948, hosting series between Colorado College and the Wichita Flyers and North Dakota and Michigan that November and December, respectively. On February 26, 1949, an Albuquerque team composed of men from Sandia Base, Kirtland Field, and the Air National Guard faced Los Alamos at the Ice Arena, winning 8-1. They played another game on March 18, Albuquerque again winning, this time 11-2. The Fresno Falcons visited Albuquerque on March 25 and 26, defeating the local side 7-4 and 25-0, respectively.

The Albuquerque Hilltoppers and Los Alamos Rams played exhibition games in 1950. The following year, the Hilltoppers, Rams and Sandia Base All-Stars were active. High school teams from Albuquerque and Los Alamos also played.

The Sandia Mountain Hockey League was formed for the 1951-52 season. It was composed of the New Mexico Lobos college team, Los Alamos Rams, Kirtland Flyers, and Sandia Bombers. There was no league play for 1953-54, but it returned for 1954-55, the Albuquerque Falcons replacing the Lobos. The Manzano Tigers took the place of Los Alamos for 1955-56. Manzano withdrew from the league after the 1957-58 season. Sandia became known as the Sandia Thunderbirds for 1959-60. After a year-long hiatus, the league resumed play outdoors at the Speedway Park rink in 1962. The season was cut short when a heat wave melted the ice. Two exhibition games were played in Los Alamos in 1962-63. A new indoor arena known as the Iceland Bowl opened in Albuquerque in 1965, and the New Mexico Hockey League began play in 1965-66. It was still in existence in 1973.

The Albuquerque Six Guns spent the 1973-74 season in the Central Hockey League. The Albuquerque Chapparals were members of the Southwest Hockey League from 1975-1977. The New Mexico Scorpions played in the Western Professional Hockey League from 1996-2001, and then the Central Hockey League until 2009. The New Mexico Ice Breakers, also based in Albuquerque, competed in the junior Western States Hockey League from 1996-2001. The Santa Fe Roadrunners played in the junior North American Hockey League from 2004-2007.

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