From Rio Rancho Observer
By Dan Allison
RIO RANCHO — While it was the dawn of a new season in a new location for the University of New Mexico men’s club hockey team, Friday and Saturday night brought a familiar foe to town.
The Arizona State University ACHA Division II team traveled to the McDermott Athletic Center this past weekend to take on the Ice Lobos. In the two-game set, UNM took the Friday matchup 6-2 as the Sun Devils salvaged the weekend with a 4-2 victory on Saturday night.
The back-and-forth split series is reflective of most Devil and Lobo matchups, as, according to Lobo goalie Kameron Remde, the two squads bring the heat whenever they face off.
“Last year, a lot of our games against ASU were really physically demanding,” Kemde said before the season opener. “And so in practice this week, we really hounded on being able to play physically and controlling ourselves. We were really working on our systems, and I feel like we’re very prepared for these games.”
The preparation showed in game one with a six-goal offensive clinic, outshooting Arizona State 43-21. In three meetings with ASU in 2024, the Lobos scored 14 combined goals. UNM almost totaled half of that amount to open 2025, with four different players filling the goal column.
Nick Weaver, coming off a 19-goal campaign last season, deposited two goals to kickstart his season. Fin Shibler followed suit with a two-goal night of his own.
Behind the multi-goal performances, Joseph Guitierrez and Bode Ensign put up a goal apiece as the Lobos were firing on all cylinders. Eight different UNM players recorded assists, with Tomas Palandra tallying two.
But as Kemde mentioned before the series, the wear-and-tear in a matchup against the Sun Devils began to show in the series finale. The Lobos would still go on and put up a good fight, but ASU pulled away in the one-goal game with an empty netter in the waning moments to seal the deal 4-2.
The Ice Lobos finished the weekend at 1-1, but they also took an important victory off the ice: with the fans. Both games of the season-opening slate were well attended and filled with energy from the spectators at the MAC. The team even honored youth hockey players, UNM students (free entry with school ID), and handed out rally towels.
UNM hockey is getting settled quite nicely in its new home in Rio Rancho, but they can’t get too comfortable. On Oct. 10 and 11, the Lobos will welcome in another Grand Canyon state rival in the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks as they prepare for a two-game series.
(Originally published at https://www.rrobserver.com/rio_rancho/mens-ice-lobos-open-season-at-mac-split-weekend-with-sun-devils/article_92db20a3-ca58-4c84-a30a-4d172eb92722.html)
