The Nevada Men's Hockey Club is kicking off its second season. This year, the team will be playing in the American Collegiate Hockey Association D3.
This will be the first time the Wolf Pack hockey players will get to compete in an official conference now that they've completed a full season last year. And they're only hoping to grow from here.
"We just want to keep building," said Franky Griffin, President and Team Captain of Nevada Men's Hockey Club. "So, we're playing ACHA D3 this year. Next year we want to hop up to D2, see how that goes, and build from there. We're really trying to level it up every year".
After graduating high school, Griffin banded with other University students looking to continue to pursue hockey and started the program last year.
"The managers of the rink, we talked to them, got with Joel Grace, the president of Reno Ice, and we all just kind of got together and we're like we're going to make this happen," he said.
Griffin tells us their first season went great, winning half of their games. And since then, the program has continued to grow with recruits and partnerships.
Head Coach Dan Rowan says, "We brought in a higher caliber of players to join the existing players that are here, that returned, so we're excited to get rolling."
Although this sport is not officially a part of the Nevada Athletics Department, players are saying there's still a huge community interest in it, and the sport's popularity seems to only grow.
"Who knew that five, ten years ago, Reno was such a hockey crazy community. Turns out it really is," Rowan said.
Trenton Wagner, player and treasurer of the club, says, "It obviously started with Vegas getting the Golden Knights, and they have been super helpful with our program as well."
Christopher Lai, player and marketing manager, says, "Everyone stops you and says, 'hey, good luck on your next game' or 'how's the season going,' but not just at the University, but even when you're at the grocery store."
The Wolf Pack is set to play against the University of Santa Rosa in the Reno Ice Rink next month. The first home game will be Greek-themed, inviting all Greek life students to show off their houses. The second game will be whiteout.
Players say they're excited to see people fill the stands and match the themes.
Griffin says, "Just keep showing out to the games, they're going to be super fun."
"We want the fans to show up in their blue and be nice and rowdy and loud for the guys," says Rowan.
The first game is September 19th at the Reno Ice Rink. Puck drops at 7 p.m. and all Wolf Pack students get in for free, just bring your ID.
