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 History |
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NMAHA History (thanks to Rick Haynie)
NMAHA is the oldest continuously operated amateur hockey association in New
Mexico. Organized and sanctioned by the Amateur Hockey Association of the
United States (now USA Hockey) in 1964 , NMAHA began offering youth
recreational hockey programs at the now closed Iceland Arena at the corner
of Copper and Truman NE in Albuquerque. Iceland was a family oriented
recreation center that consisted of an ice rink, a 36 lane bowling alley and
a 12 table pool room. Iceland was the place where all the teenagers and
their friends wanted to be seen on weekends and during the summer months.
Iceland was owned by Bill and Dorothy Snelson. The Snelson's son George,
who also lived in Albuquerque, had played varsity hockey for Dartmouth
College. This combined with the fact that the Snelson's had young
grandchildren living in Albuqueruqe probably explains why the decision was
made to build an ice rink in the New Mexico desert.
At the time there was organized Men's hockey being played at Iceland but
there were no youth hockey programs.
In 1964 Honeywell Corporation headquartered in Minneapolis MN decided to
open an office in Albuquerque. Honeywell sent a group of engineers from the
home office to Albuquerque to get the office "Up and running." Many of
these engineers were Canadian born and had played hockey during all of their
formative years. Upon their arrival these engineers asked where the local
ice rink was. They were directed to Iceland Arena. They promptly joined
and began playing in the men's league. But when they asked where all the
kids were they found out there was no organized youth hockey in New Mexico.
The Honeywell engineers started discussing this dilema with their fellow
players in the men's league, especially those who had young children. They
found several players that were willing to give their time to teach children
how to play and enjoy the game of hockey the same way they had been taught
when they were children This group of hockey playing engineers and their
recruits were responsible for the creation of NMAHA. They didn't do it for
money or fame. They did it because they loved the game of hockey and wanted
to share the love with not only their children, but any child who wanted to
learn to play the best game on earth.
How strong was that love you ask? Well we have had many former players return to help coach all levels of play, from recreational to competitive to high school. Clearly the love of the game rubbed off on them and now they are passing it on to the next generation.
Thanks to the hockey playing engineers, NMAHA is in its 43rd season.
Note: Thank you to Rick Haynie - Former Bantam A Head Coach for this bit of NMAHA history.
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