Champs! Lobos take down NAU, ASU for first ever Division II conference title

VALENCIA, Calif - California dreaming no more: the Lobos conference fantasies have come true.

Thanks to a 6-2 victory over Arizona State University, the University of New Mexico men's club hockey team captured its first West Coast Hockey Conference title since moving to ACHA Division II last season.

The Lobos entered the weekend tournament with a first-round bye, via a first-place 19-6-1 regular season finish. UNM would then take out Northern Arizona University 6-3 in the Saturday semifinals before securing the crown on Sunday against the Sun Devils.

Despite bypassing the first round, the Lobos showed no signs of rust against the Lumberjacks, going up 2-0 quickly in the first period. 

Five different Lobos netted a goal in the semifinal meeting, including two goals from forward Joshua Huard. NAU fended the wild pack of Lobos off for as long as possible, but a three-goal third period for New Mexico silenced the Jacks' hopes.

“Our team played our game through and through,” Lobos forward Zach Ganshaw said. “Regardless of who we were playing or what the score was.”

Next up: a third meeting with Arizona State. The two split a weekend series back in early October, now ready for a rubber match with the conference trophy on the line.

UNM carried its Saturday momentum into the title game, taking another early lead and never relinquishing it. In fact, the Lobos never trailed all weekend, a night-and-day difference from last year's first-round loss in their conference tourney debut.

It was the team’s seventh and eighth time scoring six goals or more in a game on the season, displaying their high-powered offense when it mattered most. In the championship, the Lobos netted four straight to make it 4-0 early, handling business with their “goal barrage” of a play style.

“That mentality is something we had struggled with during the beginning of the year, but have improved on tremendously.” Ganshaw said.

They will now have to try to bottle up some of that offensive momentum for a trip up north to Salt Lake City, set to play in the ACHA West Regionals via securing the conference’s auto bid.

A conference championship and an auto bid to the national tournament in just two years of Division II play is no small feat. While the “Ice Lobos” are not interested in reminiscing, they are definitely enjoying the ride.

“I am so proud of this team as they made a big statement today,” team manager Neal Weaver posted online after the win. “I have a feeling it's going to be a rowdy bus ride home.”