KYLE MCKENZIE NAMED HEAD COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE NEW MEXICO ICE WOLVES NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE TEAM
(Albuquerque, NM) Thursday, May 1, 2025 – The New Mexico Ice Wolves® NAHL team today announced Kyle McKenzie was named the team’s Head Coach and General Manager. He becomes the team’s third coach and takes the reins from Kevin Hartzell as the 2024-2025 season ends. McKenzie is a familiar face to the NM Ice Wolves organization and many hockey families in New Mexico, having served as Equipment Manager and Player Development coordinator for the NAHL and NA3HL teams and as Assistant Coach of the NAHL team this past season. McKenzie has also coached youth teams and helped with summer camps, clinics and private lessons since first arriving in the New Mexico in 2022.
“I’m very thankful for this incredible responsibility and look forward to continue building on the great culture and tradition that has already been established here in New Mexico,” said Kyle McKenzie, Head Coach and General Manager of the New Mexico Ice Wolves. “I have been blessed to be surrounded by so many good people within the organization, it feels like a big family here. I can’t wait to continue our incredible commitment to development and to growing the game right here in New Mexico.”
“Kyle is a unique individual who has been an integral part of our organization since he arrived in Albuquerque,” said Stan E. Hubbard, Owner of the New Mexico Ice Wolves and Outpost Ice Arenas. “He has an experienced hockey mind and knows firsthand the role of junior hockey in player development and in growing the game in a community. We welcome Coach Kyle with confidence that our mission will continue to get even stronger in the seasons ahead.”
“I’m excited for new Head Coach Kyle McKenzie and the impact I believe he will have on the entire New Mexico Ice Wolves organization,” said Kevin Hartzell, just finished Head Coach & GM and now Senior Advisor to the organization. “First and foremost, Kyle is a great human with a kind heart who also has excellent hockey knowledge to share with our players. He’s been blessed with being mentored by world class coaches like Craig Ludwig and Jim Montgomery and he’s been part of championship teams at every level so he’s well versed in what successful players and successful teams look like. Our New Mexico Ice Wolves organization is in good hands.”
A native of Aston, PA, McKenzie has played on two title winning teams over a playing career spanning more than a decade. During his time as a defenseman on the United States Hockey League (USHL) Dubuque Fighting Saints from 2011-2013 the team was crowned Clarke Cup National Champion in 2013. From there McKenzie played from 2013-2017 on the Providence Collage Friars winning an NCAA Division I National Championship in 2015. After his college career McKenzie played professionally for six years in the ECHL for the Worcester Railers and the Jacksonville Iceman, as well as a stint in the Southern Professional Hockey League for the Birmingham Bulls. McKenzie also brings ECHL coaching experience having served as the Assistant Coach for the Wheeling Nailers during the 2022-2023 season. McKenzie joined the New Mexico Ice Wolves as Player Development Coordinator and Equipment Manager for the 2023-24 season and served as the Assistant Coach this past season under Head Coach and General Manager Kevin Hartzell.
Hartzell returns to his role as Senior Advisor which he has served in since the organization’s inception prior to its inaugural season in 2019-2020. In that role, Hartzell helps guide the organization to be the best we can be and specifically works on leadership training and mentorship of all coaches in the New Mexico Ice Wolves organization (NAHL and NA3HL).
About NAHL
Celebrating its 50th season in 2024-25, the NAHL is the oldest and one of the largest junior hockey leagues of its kind in the United States and one of only two USA Hockey-certified leagues that operate under the free-to-play model. The NAHL is also one of the best in the world at advancing players to NCAA and professional hockey.
With 349 NCAA commitments so far during the 2023-24 season, the league has set a new standard with 300+ NCAA commitments in each of the last eight seasons. That also includes 270 NCAA Division I commitments this past season. In addition, six players with NAHL ties were listed in the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft.