Team 1 players and coach at 8U Durango Jamboree, front row from left, Hunter Beddeson and Korbin Parton. Back row from left, Luka Henzl, Beckett Morrison, Coach Chris Jeffery, Lincoln Disterhaupt, Luke Miller, River Regis, James Mcatee, Owen Jeffery and Owen Keenan. Courtesy/LAHA

Team 2 players and coaches at 8U Pueblo Stampede Jamboree. Front row from left, Gurmukh Khalsa, Maxton Wooten, Amber Martinez, Edwin Smith, Eddie Artnak. Back row from left, Coach Joe Artnak, Ray Waters, Bella Villarreal, Coach Josh Mietz, Arthur Zerr, Teddy Jennings, Rosie Demas, Not pictured, Luke Mietz. Courtesy/LAHA

SPORTS News:

The LAHA Mites (8U) hockey teams traveled Feb. 22-23 to Pueblo, Colo., to compete against teams from Texas, New Mexico and Colorado in the annual 8U Stampede Jamboree. Both LAHA teams (Team 1 – Los Alamos Hilltoppers and Team 2 – Los Alamos Rams) finished the tournament with strong records of 3- 3 and 4-1-1, respectively, and remarkable play from players on both teams throughout the tournament.

Multiple goals from Eddie Artnak, Luke Mietz and Amber Martinez combined with stifling defense from Edwin Smith, Teddy Jennings, and Ray Waters helped to cement one of the best records of the tournament for Team 2.

In the final competition of the 2024-2025 season, the LAHA Mites (8U) and Atoms (6U) hockey teams traveled March 8-9 to Durango, Colo., and competed in a two-day jamboree. Several of the best youth programs in Colorado and New Mexico were represented with teams from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Durango and Telluride. Once again, both Mites (8U) teams had outstanding performances and finished the tournament with winning records of 4-2 (Team 1) and 3-2-1 (Team 2). This time, exceptional play from Korbin Parton (2 goals) and Lincoln Disterhaupt (2 goals) with a stout defense anchored by Luka Henzl, helped elevate Team 1 to the second-best record among all teams and a victory against their arch-rival New Mexico Ice Wolves (score of 6-0) in the final game. Noteworthy and punishing play by the “girl- power” line of Michaela Lopez, Amber Martinez and Bella Villarreal helped lead the way for Team 2 in their 3 tournament wins.

The Atoms (6U) team wrapped-up the Durango Jamboree with the overall best performance by a LAHA team, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament and finishing with a 6-0 record. The team clearly dominated the field in both individual skill and team play with a tournament leading 16 goals from Eli Artnak and double-digit scoring generated by the combined play of Eli Flemming and Devlin Rosenow.

However, an undefeated record was only possible with the extraordinary play from the “dragon” (all girls) starting line and goal tending from Riley Martin, Asher Johnson and Clara Jennings.

“I am so proud of how well all our players and teams competed in both tournaments as well as the effort they put into every practice and development opportunity throughout the season. This proves our players, teams, and organization (as a whole) are capable of performing at the highest level against our surrounding youth hockey programs and communities. I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the development of these young players, and more importantly, as outstanding young people within our community,” Coach Joe Artnak said. ­“I ask the community and Los Alamos County Government to please continue to support the effort for a new sunshade structure and ice rink pad as well as roller derby and inline hockey summer programs at the Los Alamos County Ice Rink. These efforts will help ensure the continued growth of these programs and afford a greater number of much-needed, affordable summer activities for our youth and adults here in Los Alamos County.”

Amber Martinez stretches over two Pueblo Bull defenders to score in 8U Stampede Jamboree. Courtesy/LAHA

Rosie Demas battles for a puck against Pueblo Bulls player in the 8U Stampede Jamboree. Courtesy/LAHA

Wyatt Smith moves past a Pueblo Bulls defender along boards in the 8U Stampede Jamboree. Courtesy/LAHA

Atoms (6U) team goalies had exceptional play that elevated the team to an undefeated record of 6-0 in 6U Durango Jamboree. From left, Clara Jennings, Asher Johnson and Riley Martin. Courtesy/LAHA