Inside Scoop: Bronco Hockey Takes on the Desert
Luke Johnston ’25 rushes up the ice
Photos by Mark Aho for The Santa Clara
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. - This past weekend, Santa Clara University’s Men’s Club Ice Hockey team took to the desert for their annual team trip to play a tournament in Los Alamos, New Mexico, a place famously known as the home of the atomic bomb. The group faced some uphill battles against three very strong teams—Texas A&M University, Texas State University and the University of New Mexico—but a valiant effort left the Broncos heading home in good spirits.
A “bomb” would probably be an apt reference for both how much fun the trip was and also what the scoreboard showed in favor of the teams playing the Broncos. They are registered in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division III, while each of the three teams they faced are Division II—so the competition was challenging. The squad started off the tournament on Friday night as the sun set with a game against Texas A&M, ultimately falling 7-4 after the contest was even midway through the second. They would go on to drop their second game to Texas State, 6-4, with a final-minute empty netter icing the game.
The third and final game was far closer, as Bronco goaltender Owen Lamacraft ’26 stood on his head, making upwards of 50 saves on some tired legs. The game was tied 0-0 going into the third period, but ultimately ended 5-0 in favor of the Lobos. Yet, the scoreboard was not indicative of how hard the Broncos fought till the buzzer in the freezing weather.
The Los Alamos County Ice Rink was home to the tournament’s clashes, and it is a very special venue. Built in 1936, it is one of the only uncovered outdoor rinks in the nation. Since most hockey games are played indoors, the added factor of the elements was immediately noticeable—temperatures ranged from the single digits to above freezing for the team’s three battles. At one point, 20-mile-per-hour winds were blowing broken shards of ice and snow in players faces, which was a new experience for many. The added elevation of 7,300 feet made skating noticeably more difficult.
The team stayed in nearby Santa Fe, New Mexico, exploring and taking in the western vibe of the city—which a player said felt more like a ‘60s movie—and made it to J. Robert Oppenheimer’s old house and the Manhattan Project museum.
Captain and president Carlin Kyhl ’25—who joined the team in its early stages—has been impressed to see the progress the team has made in his four years as a member.
“When I got here, we were just a group that hung out together and sometimes played hockey,” Kyhl said. “Now, we have a good group of guys that want to win and continue their careers past high school. It has been awesome to see how it has changed around here.”
The team was first established in 2006. Since hockey is not a large sport on the West Coast, it has proven difficult to field a roster talented and deep enough to compete with other top teams. Practice times are also difficult, as the only ice time available is late at night. But, as more and more midwestern and East Coast students commit to the University, the field from which to draw continues to grow in favor of the hockey team. This year’s roster is almost double the size of last year, which allows more leeway for a club team that is often missing players for other obligations.
The Broncos have around a month remaining in their season. Currently ranked #23 in American Collegiate Hockey Association Division III, the Broncos have a chance to qualify for the national tournament, something the team has never done before. They will face UC Santa Barbara this weekend, with ensuing contests against rivals San Jose State University and University of California, Davis the following weekend. It has been another strong campaign for the team, as they have clinched a fourth-consecutive West Coast Hockey Conference playoff berth, continuing to build on the program’s recent success.
Disclaimer: Keegan Bankoff plays for the Men’s Club Ice Hockey.
