Ice Hockey’s Hot Winter

Ice Hockey may be a relatively young program at Colorado Academy, but Head Coach Richie Nelson insists, “Our roots run deep.” And this year, hockey’s history at CA is surfacing once again, as the Varsity Boys competed in the postseason for the 4A State Championship for the first time since they came in runner-up in 2022.

The timing couldn’t be better: With U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams both bringing home gold from the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy this February, hockey is the sport with perhaps more “aura” than any other at the moment for countless student-athletes across the country.

The Mustangs first took to the ice throughout the 1970s, disbanding in the 1980s until the early 2000s, and then fading again by 2007. Their biggest obstacle? No home ice, and local rink time in chronically short supply, with bigger high schools and the University of Denver all competing for the same facilities.

But in 2017, Ice Hockey returned to CA, driven by growing statewide participation at the club level among both boys and girls, and today, according to Nelson and Athletic Director Jon Hill, the Mustangs are regularly stampeding their way through the tough CHSAA Class 4A competition.

That has consistently set the team up for end-of-season playoff runs like this year’s, when they followed 15 regular-season wins and just three losses with a dominant performance in the quarterfinal round and a very close semifinal loss to end their strong season.

“This team has been my baby,” says Richie. “And that’s what it takes to rebuild a culture—not just buy-in from a single coach, but from the entire Athletics program, the administration, and especially the players.”

This year’s squad is a special one, Richie acknowledges. “They’ve got a lot of those things you can’t teach: heart, dedication, drive, hunger for success. They’ve got the work ethic and the ability to be humble, even while they keep that chip on their shoulder that gives them the will to compete.”

In fact, Richie sees parallels between his Mustangs and the Olympic-winning Men’s and Women’s National Teams.

The Women’s Team, he says, set a dominant precedent throughout the Games. ”They just didn’t quit. They were aggressive, with a chip on their shoulder, too. And in the Men’s victory over Canada, they just kept fighting and scrapping, until that last amazing goal. Both are great examples of what we try to do every day.”

Even in the losses, like the Mustangs’ 2-1 defeat against the Pine Creek Eagles—eventual State Champions—in this season’s semifinal round, there’s much to gain, states Richie. 

“The losses give us a reality check, something to bounce back from. That’s the reason I love hockey,” explains Richie. “It’s a sport where you can dominate for three periods and still lose the game. Not everything in life goes your way; you’re always going to have those hiccups. What matters is how you respond to them, and this group, when they’ve faced adversity, they’ve responded pretty darn well.”

A roster of dedicated hockey parents and fans has played an invaluable supporting role, Richie adds. The 6:00 a.m. practices, the hours of bus travel to meet faraway opponents like Steamboat Springs, the missed weekend birthday parties or social events when hockey has to come first—all of these are as tough on the parents as they are on the players.

“Even though it’s been difficult—the ice availability, the off-campus games—when we see parents and fans show up for our 7:00 p.m. Showdown Series match against Kent Denver at the University of Denver, it feels just like a home Basketball game in that rink. There’s a ton of support, and it helps build the program.”

Building a Mustang family is really what Ice Hockey—and all sports—are about at CA, says Richie.

“Put a group of 20 high school kids on a bus for three hours, and they’re going to get a little bit closer and know each other a little bit better. Or take that Ninth Grader on the team who doesn’t have a driver’s license yet. They ride with a Senior, and by the end of the season, those carpools add up to a tighter family.”

And to more good years to follow, according to Richie. The team’s recent successes have put CA on the state’s Ice Hockey map; more and more players are looking at the school as a place to thrive. Plans for a full-fledged JV schedule and ongoing outreach to Middle School club players promise to keep the pipeline full well into the future. 

But will there ever be an ice rink at CA? “I’ll fight for it,” says Richie—more ice time could only boost the program. “Imagine the possibilities in P.E. class.”

There may not be a Zamboni machine on campus anytime soon, but that won’t stop Richie from looking ahead to the next round of growth for Mustang Ice Hockey. “Whether you’re a Ninth Grader or a Senior, it doesn’t matter. You’re on the team, and we’re all here to better ourselves and achieve a goal. When everyone shares that mindset, you tend to be successful.”

See 2025-2026 Ice Hockey Photos