New Mexico
Families host non-local New Mexico Ice Wolves players
Many of the Ice Wolves players come from all around the U.S. and don’t have a place to stay so families in New Mexico are a big help.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Hockey season is well underway, including for our New Mexico Ice Wolves whose out-of-state players are finding themselves right at home here.
Players are all about 17-22 years old. They’re either finishing up high school or taking a gap year before college in hopes of getting NCAA Division I scholarships. Many of them are not only from out of state but also out of the country so they need a place to stay while achieving their goals.
That is where families, like the Shipley family, come in handy.
“She said, ‘Hey, we had this, this young guy, he needs to place a sleep tonight. We’ve already talked about it. Can we do it?’ And I just told her to please make a good decision,” Jeremy Shipley said.
That decision grew Shipley’s family of four to five. They’re letting 18-year-old Connor Hanley have a place to stay while he chases his dreams.
“We were obviously a little nervous in the beginning to open up our home to someone that’s a complete stranger. But just in the short amount of time that Connor’s been here, we’ve really grown,” Jackie Shipley said.
Connor joined the Shipley family in the middle of the season. Since he came to live with them in September, he has become a part of the family.
“It’s been great to see how he interacts with the kids, how he fits right in with like, our life and all the things we do,” Jackie said.
Ten-year-old Easton explained things were a bit awkward in the beginning.
“At first, we were getting to know each other. But then as time went on, we started to get more comfortable with each other,” Easton said.
Now, Easton and seven-year-old Boden feel like Connor is their big brother. They have a lucky stick at home.
It’s lucky because Connor signed it and gave it to them.
With all of the players who come here, like Liam Waugh from Georgia and Tim Hewko from Ann Arbor, Michigan, rookie forwards whom we also talked to, the New Mexico Ice Wolves does their best to not only match up similar lifestyles but also personalities.
“If a player says, ‘I love teaching little kids how to skate or play hockey,’ and I know this family has a couple of kids, I’m like, ‘Ah, that might be a match!’ I meet them and I talk to them, and I just get a sense of who they are. And then I talk to the player and the player’s family. I get a sense of who they are and then I just let my gut kind of do the talking,” explained Tina Tomlin, the host coordinator for the New Mexico Ice Wolves.
Tomlin also hosts a player – goalie Jackson Fuller.
For hosting a player, each family gets $425 a month and discounts on merchandise and food at the rink.
The All-American Rejects played a pop-up show in a former alfalfa field in the South Valley after telling fans the location just hours before the concert.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A former alfalfa field in the South Valley served as the venue for one of the most highly-anticipated concerts of the year in New Mexico Wednesday night, although no one knew exactly where it would take place until a few hours before showtime.
The All-American Rejects, the band behind hits such as “Move Along” and “Dirty Little Secret” said they were coming to the Albuquerque area for a concert, but only fans who signed up for an alert received the exact location, and that didn’t come down until 5:55 p.m. Wednesday.
It’s part of the band’s free “House Party” concert series, which features performances in barns and backyards instead of more traditional venues in an effort to fight back against rising concert ticket prices.
“The whole tour, the message we’re trying to get across is what’s happened with concerts in general. It’s become a one-percenters club to have access to the one commodity we need for togetherness, which is music,” said Tyson Ritter, the lead singer and bassist for the band.
The owners of the property couldn’t believe their luck when they were selected. Jackeline and Thomas Ingham told KOB 4 their family’s properties in the South Valley have been used for weddings in the past, but certainly never for a major concert.
“And I thought it was a scam, so I hung up,” said Jackeline Ingham when asked about how the band’s manager reached out to her to set up the concert. “So, [my husband] is like, ‘Call her back!’ So, he ended up talking the rest of the way with her.”
Throughout the day, many fans of the All-American Rejects across New Mexico were trying to guess where the band might show up later in the evening.
“I thought it was either gonna be at Ex Novo, New Mexico United, or just somewhere in the South Valley because that’s what Reddit said all day,” said Brooke Palmer.
Fans within a 124-mile (200 km) radius were able to receive the band’s concert alert.
It ended with thousands of fans flocking to the area, and just before 8:30 p.m., an announcement was made saying the venue was at capacity, forcing many to leave.
Others remained outside the main gate trying to get the best view they could from afar.
But the band was ultimately happy with the former alfalfa field that was quickly turned into a concert stage.
“Well, this is number four. And this feels like this is the example,” said Ritter ahead of the show. “This is what a house party is. Right here, man. We’ve got a beautiful field, an incredibly generous host, the weather is with us.”
The professional rodeo season continues to heat up as we head into the spring and summer runs. Rodeos across the country drew top athletes over the recent weekend, as they vie for positions at the 2026 National Finals Rodeo (NFR).
Every dollar counts, especially as we enter the last five months of the 2026 season.
Riverdale Rodeo – Riverdale, Calif.
Bareback rider Jacob Lees earned two California victories on the weekend, scoring 81.5 points on Four Star Rodeo’s Sweet Annie in Riverdale. His 83.5-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Socket claimed the win in Stonyford.
Reigning Circuit Champion, Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, topped the barrel racing by two-tenths of a second with her time of 17.04 sconds.
Stonyford Rodeo – Stonyford, Calif.
California cowboy Bailey Small put together a solid weekend in his circuit, winning Stonyford with an 82.5-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Classy Clark. He also finished second in Riverdale.
Barrel racer Kathy Petska continues to dominate the circuit, claiming yet another spring win with a 17.50-second run.
American Royal Rodeo – Kansas City, Mo.
There are now two “Popes” to watch out for in the bareback riding — three-time NFR Average Champion and World Champion, Jess Pope, and his brother, Ty. Ty made a huge ride in Kansas City, scoring 87 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Broadway Boots for the win.
In 2025, Kansas cowboy Weston Patterson made his first NFR appearance and has carried that momentum into his 2026 season. Scoring 88 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Joker Poker, he claimed the saddle bronc riding win.
Pioneer Days Rodeo – Clovis, N.M.
Tie-down roper Buck Tate earned the win by over two full seconds, taking home $1,404.
Reigning Breakaway Roping World Champion Taylor Munsell claimed the $2,054 victory with a time of 1.8 seconds.
Helotes Festival Association Rodeo – Helotes, Texas
In bareback riding, Taylor Broussard matched up with Andrews Rodeo’s Empty Promises for a score of 85.5 points to earn the win.
Seven-time NFR qualifier, Isaac Diaz, topped the leaderboard with a score of 89 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s To The Limit. He earned the win in saddle bronc riding and $1,855.
PPCLA PRCA Rodeo – Mineral Wells, Texas
Sissy Winn put together a solid weekend in her circuit, topping the barrel racing in Mineral Wells and finishing fourth in Helotes.
Hailing from Winnie, Texas, Ethan Winckler made the only qualified ride in bull riding, scoring 87.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Mr. Blue Sky and taking home a whopping $4,863.
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