New Mexico Ice Wolves Announce Coaching Change

The New Mexico Ice Wolves of the North American Hockey League named Kyle McKenzie as the franchise’s third head coach and will also serve as the General Manager.

McKenzie is no new face to the New Mexico Ice Wolves organization. He started his career with the Ice Wolves NAHL and NA3HL teams as the Equipment Manager and Player Development Coordinator. This past season he served as the Assistant Coach of the NAHL team and worked alongside Kevin Hartzell. Hartzell just finished his year as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Ice Wolves. He has transitioned into being a Senior Advisor to the organization. 

McKenzie is a product of junior hockey and knows what it means to be on a winning team. McKenzie played in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Dubuque Fighting Saints from 2011-2013. In his final season with the Fighting Saints, McKenzie and his squad won the Clarke Cup National Championship. The blueliner continued his playing career and his winning ways with the Providence College Friars. He skated with the Friars between 2013-2017 and his team took home the NCAA Division I National Championship in 2015.

Following his college playing career he played professional hockey for five seasons in the ECHL. McKenzie skated with the Worcester Railers for three seasons before having a short stint with the Wheeling Nailers. The next season he spent a season in the SPHL with the Birmingham Bulls before ending his playing career back in the ECHL with the Jacksonville Icemen. He brings coaching experience from the ECHL. In the 2022-2023 season with the Wheeling Nailers, he served as the Assistant Coach.