Taos' youth hockey league hopes to get back on the ice this year

Aug. 17—Like a lot of Michigan youthMark Richert grew up on the icegliding around the frozen ponds and arenas of the Midwest playing ice hockey with his friends. But when a high school classmate and former teammate died during a gameRichert packed away his gear in his parent's basementexpecting to be done with the sport for good.

"I just kind of shut down," he said. "The whole sport didn't make sense to me any longer."

But 20 years laterwhile walking the halls at Taos High School as an English teacherRichert noticed a sticker stuck to a classroom door advertising Taos Hockey. He decided to borrow a pair of skates and a hockey stick from his studentswho were eager to see their letters instructor attend a practice of the rough-and-tumble sport.

Pretty soonRichert was on the phone with his parents back in Michiganasking if they'd dig out his old gear and mail it to him. That yearhe slipped on his old jersey from 1982.

Taos has long been known as a cultural hub of the Southwestbut the region's ice hockey community also knows it for its championship hockey programwhich was brought to essentially a standstill after a fire broke out on the roof of the Taos Youth and Family Center a little over a year ago. The facility houses the rink the program uses to practice and play.

The fire not only damaged the roof over the rinkpresenting a hazard to the many community groups that use it throughout the yearthe water firefighters used to douse the blaze caused further damage to the rink itselfofficials say.

Contractors' assessments uncovered other deficiencies with the rink's ice-making system and the concrete slab where the ice is builtrendering it unusableaccording to officialswho say the rink is more than 20 years old and in need of upgrades.

Except for a few games and practices that could be strung together on ice elsewhere during the 2024-25 seasonthe Taos team fractured as a result of the facility's shutdownwith players joining other squads in the region and some families even moving away.

Stillthe orangeblack and white Taos Youth Hockey Tigers jersey has been a common sight ever since at Taos Town Council meetingswhere public officials have discussed their progress toward getting hockey playerslocal figure skaters and other community groups back on the ice.

At an Aug. 12 council meetingthose officials made a loose commitment to having ice again for the coming winter seasonnoting that more extensive upgrades identified for the rink could take longer.

"The concern is making sure not only that we have icebut that it is safe for everyone to use," said Town Attorney Jessica Nixon. "We are working together to make sure that everyone who uses that ice is as protected as possiblegiven the understanding of the risks associated with it."

State Sen. Roberto "Bobby" GonzalesD-Ranchos de Taosworked with the townthe county and the hockey association to obtain $1.2 million in capital outlay appropriations from the Legislature this year to help repair the Youth & Family Center.

But the association's representatives at the meeting made no bones about their doubts regarding the town's ability to make good on its promises to fix the rink in time. For monthsthey say communication from the town has been scantleaving them at a loss where it comes to fundraising and recruitment for the coming season. The town declined to comment for this story.

"Your silence and lack of communication is telling," said Sophia Trevinoa player who addressed the town council during public comment. "As my coaches say'Try your hardest,' but this isn't your hardest. I know you can fix it if we work together."

For Trevinoher teammatestheir parents and Richertwho's been the association's head coach the last four yearsthe Taos Youth Hockey Association provides more than just an athletic outlet — it's a vital source of community for parents and youth. For some playersit can even be a pathway toward higher levels of the game.

"Some of my closest friendships and best memories were made through Taos ice hockey," said Hanna Weinmana forward for the University of Michigan who also spoke at last week's meeting. "I owe my college hockey career to the support from the Taos Youth Hockey Association. I'm not here tonight just as a former playerbut as someone who knows firsthand what this program can do for young people."

Since its founding in 1990the all-volunteer nonprofit organization has run teams for children ages 3-18 and has brought home 15 state championships. In a typical yearwhen the ice rink at the Youth & Family Center is operationalthey host four to five tournamentswhich attract teams from throughout the state and region.

Christian Whetsellarea director of sales and marketing for the Hotel Don Fernando and Hampton Inn in Taossaid those tournaments create a sizable economic impact during hockey seasonwhich typically runs from early November through late March.

"The hockey rink brings teams who stay in our hotels and dine in our restaurants," he said at the Aug. 12 meeting. "They bring economic vitality to the community at a time of year when you know the community might not see as much from a tourism base."

Brian Stinettthe director of the Santa Fe Recreation Divisionsaid that operating ice rinks in warmer climates is generally much more difficult than in the frigid northern latitudes where the sport was born.

"It's massively challenging," he said. "Essentiallyyou got to have nearly perfect conditions to have perfect ice. If there's any wild swings in temperaturein humidity or anything along those linesyou're going to have a plant that is going to have to constantly be tinkered with to maintain good ice."

Given the circumstancesStinett said it would be "amazing" if the Taos rink has skateable ice again at any point this season.

In the meantimedozens of local youth and parents are concerned about the survival of a community program Taoseños have relied on for decades.

One local hockey mom's faith there will be ice this year?

"Fifty percent," said Margeaux Hurtadowho has three children enrolled in Taos Youth Hockey Association. "There just hasn't been much movement with construction on that roofand the town has made so many excuses. There's always another barrier to solving the problem."