The Nevada Wolf Pack are back on the ice for their second season of this current era of Wolf Pack hockey. Competing at the ACHA Division III level, Nevada’s men’s club hockey team represents the University of Nevada, Reno with pride and passion. This year marks a special milestone for the American Collegiate Hockey Association, as the league celebrates its 35th anniversary. Nevada is a member of the West Coast Hockey Conference (WCHC), one of the strongest conferences in the ACHA’s western region. While the Wolf Pack’s primary conference, the Mountain West, doesn’t sponsor ice hockey, the landscape is changing. With Nevada now back on the ice, every school in the Mountain West Conference officially fields a hockey team at the club level. That connection adds an extra layer of rivalry and excitement to the season ahead. From growing regional competition to the momentum building around the program, there’s plenty for Wolf Pack fans to look forward to this year.
The Nevada Wolf Pack compete in the West Coast Hockey Conference (WCHC), one of the most competitive leagues in the ACHA. The conference is home to 16 teams, with California dominating the membership. Eleven programs hail from the Golden State, while Arizona adds four more, and Nevada rounds it out with one — the Wolf Pack. The makeup of the WCHC is unique. Twelve of its teams are primarily NCAA Division I schools, giving the league a strong foundation of large, recognizable athletic programs. Two members are NCAA Division III schools, and two others are not affiliated with the NCAA at all, coming instead from associations like the CCCAA and NAIA. This mix of schools creates a diverse playing field and plenty of interesting matchups. In terms of conference ties, the Big West Conference leads the way with five representatives, followed by the West Coast Conference with three. The WCHC also features two Mountain West schools — Nevada and Grand Canyon — as well as one each from the Big 12 (Arizona State) and the Big Sky (Northern Arizona). The remaining four teams are the non-NCAA members, which include programs like Santa Rosa Junior College and Park University Gilbert. The roster of teams is a who’s who of West Coast hockey programs. From established California schools like UC Irvine, UC Davis, Long Beach State, and UC Santa Barbara, to Arizona powers like Arizona State and Grand Canyon, the competition runs deep. Even smaller programs such as Cal Lutheran and UC Santa Cruz bring their own tradition and spirit to the conference. The diversity of the schools highlights the wide reach of hockey culture across the region.The WCHC has quickly developed into one of the strongest conferences in the west, with Arizona State entering the season as the defending WCHC Division III champion. For the Nevada Wolf Pack, being the only program from the Silver State adds an extra layer of pride and motivation. Every time they take the ice, they represent not just their school, but Nevada hockey as a whole — and in a league filled with strong rivals, that’s no small task.
Reno Ice serves as the home arena for Nevada Wolf Pack hockey, giving the team a true base in northern Nevada. The rink seats about 1,000 fans, creating an intimate and energetic atmosphere on game nights. Beyond Wolf Pack hockey, Reno Ice is also home to the Reno Ice Raiders, as well as being a hub for local youth and adult hockey leagues that keep the ice busy year-round. The facility even doubles as the practice home for the Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL, connecting it directly to the professional hockey world. While the Wolf Pack’s games are currently hosted at Reno Ice, there’s always speculation about future opportunities. Venues like the Tahoe Blue Event Center or the planned Grand Sierra Resort Arena could one day host Nevada hockey on a larger stage, but for now, Reno Ice remains the heart of Wolf Pack hockey.
The Nevada Wolf Pack are gearing up for a full slate of 20 games this season, facing off against seven different opponents. The schedule is balanced with five home games and five road trips, giving fans in Reno plenty of chances to see the team in action. The season begins at home with a two-game series against the Santa Rosa Bear Cubs on September 19th and 20th. From there, the Wolf Pack hit the road for six straight away games against tough competition, including matchups with the Santa Clara Broncos, the UC Davis Aggies, and the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. The middle stretch of the schedule brings hockey back to Reno, as the Wolf Pack host six home games against the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, the UC Davis Aggies, and the Santa Clara Broncos. After that, they close out the road portion of their schedule with four games against UC Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. The season finale is set for February 20th and 21st, when Nevada will welcome the San Diego Toreros to Reno Ice for a two-game series. One major storyline this season is who isn’t on the schedule. Despite being the most historic college rivalry in the state, the Nevada Wolf Pack and the UNLV Rebels won’t face each other on the ice this year. UNLV does not have an ACHA Division III team, while Nevada does not currently field Division II or Division I programs like the Rebels. For now, the Battle for Nevada will have to wait — but that doesn’t make this season any less exciting for the Pack and their fans.
The Nevada Wolf Pack will be hitting the ice this season with a fresh new look. The team has unveiled two new jerseys (one in navy and the other in white) both featuring “Nevada” across the front in bold lettering. The designs share the same pattern and incorporate the program’s classic gray accents, giving the uniforms a clean and modern feel. Each jersey also includes a shoulder logo inspired by the Nevada state flag, tying the team’s identity directly to its roots in the Silver State. To complete the look, the Wolf Pack will skate in chrome helmets, adding an extra flash and edge to their game-night presence.
Zac Electrifly 
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