Sitting at the base of the Sandia Mountains is the Outpost Ice Arenas, home to the New Mexico Ice Wolves, a junior hockey program competing in the North American and North American 3 Hockey Leagues. 

Hockey players ranging from 17 – 20 travel from across the country and around the world to play with the Ice Wolves. Now you may ask, where do these players live? They live right here in Albuquerque with host families, better known as “billets”. Billets provide a home for players over the duration of the season, welcoming them into their families. 

Billets are the backbone of the Ice Wolves organization, making it possible for players to train and climb the ladder of development with hopes to play college hockey and beyond. 

Some of these families live right here in North Albuquerque Acres, the Johnsons, Taliaferros, and Wilde families all host New Mexico Ice Wolves players making their homes a hockey home. 

Keith and Jennifer Johnson have been part of the New Mexico Ice Wolves host family  community since the team’s inaugural season in 2019, opening their home to players and  building relationships that have lasted well beyond the rink. Hosting billet player Jake Kasay Billet, along with several players before him, has become a meaningful part of family life, and  over the years they have stayed connected with many former players and their families long after  the season ends.  

For the Johnsons, hosting is about more than simply providing a place to stay. They see it as an  opportunity to create a supportive environment, offer guidance, and set an example for their own  children through the relationships built along the way.  

Keith and Jennifer, both Albuquerque natives, have spent more than two decades building a life  together after meeting in high school and marrying in 2003. During Keith’s professional  motocross career, the couple traveled extensively and often stayed with friends and supporters,  experiences that ultimately inspired them to become a host family themselves.  

Now living in North Albuquerque Acres, the Johnsons have built a home centered around family,  sports, and community. Keith is the third-generation owner of the oldest Yamaha dealership in  the United States, with locations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, while Jennifer manages the busy  day-to-day life of the household. Their son Keegan, a senior at Hope Christian High School, is a  four-year baseball letterman who plans to attend Grand Canyon University to study Business  Management, while Brayden is deeply involved in hockey and hopes to continue playing at the  next level with the Ice Wolves and beyond.  

Outside of sports, the family enjoys camping, fishing, snowmobiling, wake surfing, boating, and  spending time together outdoors. Even with packed schedules, they prioritize evenings at home,  often gathered around dinner, board games, or a fire together. 

As they prepare to welcome Jake back for another season, the Johnson family continues to  embrace the opportunity to be part of each player’s journey both on and off the ice.

For Cory and Lisa Wilde, becoming part of the New Mexico Ice Wolves host family community has quickly turned into a meaningful experience centered around support, stability, and connection.  

The family first stepped into hosting last season, welcoming Max Arlt with the 3HL team during  the final stretch of the season and playoffs. This year, they again opened their home late in the season to NAHL tender player Jacob Kletti, providing consistency during one of the busiest parts of the  year. He was here to practice and got in a few games as needed due to rostered player injuries. They also hosted Ben Holdsworth during his tryout week before he ultimately tendered for  next season.  

For the Wildes, hosting has been an easy yes from the start. While much of it comes down to  everyday moments like meals, rides, and quick check-ins, they believe those small acts create  something meaningful and help players feel at home away from the rink. 

That sense of consistency reflects the foundation the family has built over the years. Cory and  Lisa met in 1996 while Cory was serving in the Air Force and married the following year in  Albuquerque. After spending time in Alaska, where their daughter Dakota was born, the family  eventually returned to New Mexico and settled in North Albuquerque Acres, where they have  now lived for more than a decade.  

Today, Cory works for the City of Albuquerque, while Lisa, a former teacher, has spent years  supporting both their family and the community. Along with Dakota, now in college, and their  four dogs Bella, Colt, Kimber, and Remi, the Wildes have built a welcoming home centered  around spending time together and supporting others. Hosting Ice Wolves players has become a  natural extension of that environment.

The Taliaferro family has been billeting for the New Mexico Ice Wolves since the organization’s  inaugural NAHL season in 2019, and over the years, hosting players has become an important  part of family life.  

For Hank and Kelly Taliaferro, billet players and their families quickly become part of their own  extended family. They have especially enjoyed getting to know Tim Hewko and Oskar Edberg and watching  them grow both as hockey players and as individuals. While they describe the experience as  incredibly rewarding, they also joke that hosting comes with one universal truth: hockey players  eat a lot.  

Hank and Kelly met in college in New Hampshire in 1995 before eventually making their way to  Albuquerque for Hank’s emergency medicine residency at UNMH. What began as a temporary  stop quickly became home, and the family has now lived in Albuquerque since 2006.  

Today, Hank is an emergency medicine physician and owner of Duke City Cares, while Kelly, a  former science teacher, now owns Lucky Dog Realty, a boutique brokerage. Their sons, Henry  and Matthew, each bring their own interests and personalities to the family dynamic. Henry  attends Colorado School of Mines studying petroleum engineering and is an Eagle Scout who  enjoys the outdoors, while Matthew, a junior at La Cueva, has a passion for music and spends  time working out of his self-built studio.  

Outside of work and hockey, the family enjoys spending time at their farm in La Joya, New  Mexico, where hunting, camping, and outdoor activities help them reconnect away from busy  schedules. Hank enjoys bird watching, Kelly enjoys running and hot yoga, and as a family they  value the time they spend together most.  

If you ask the Taliaferros when they feel most connected, the answer is simple: around the table.  Whether sharing a meal at home or catching up after a long day, those everyday moments are  what define the life they have built together in Albuquerque.

Taking in a hockey player is no small feat, but the reward will last a lifetime. These families have built bonds with their Ice Wolves players—fostering a home away from home right here in North Albuquerque Acres, building on the foundation they have established in the neighborhood.

There can never be too many billets. If you’re interested in learning more about the host family program and if it can be the right fit for your household, you can contact Greg Bronson and Tina Tomlin at hostfamilies@nmicewolves.com