UTSA Hockey Seeks Conference Title

San Antonio fans have found a new team to cheer for after the Rampage left town. UTSA hockey has filled that gap since 2023 by providing a college-level team in ACHA Division II. The Roadrunners now have a concrete goal for the 2026 season: winning the Texas Collegiate Hockey Conference championship.

This is the program's first year competing in a conference. Coach James Hiebert said the team is made up mostly of players from South Texas. He noted that the roster includes men and women ages 18 to 30. Some players are pursuing careers as doctors and dentists while they play.

The team plays a physical style against schools like Texas A&M, Texas, and TCU. They also face their local rival, Texas State. Postgraduate right winger Travis Sorce said the conference play gives the players a clear target. He said, "Being in a conference this year, it incentivizes the guys to work toward something. It’s allowed us to compete at a much higher level."

The program operates on a player-funded model. It does not have a dedicated locker room. The team shares two ice sheets in San Antonio with other users. Junior defenseman and team president Justin Trevino said these challenges have not stopped the team from growing. He said, "You can’t give up on these guys, you can’t give up on the school, you can’t give up on the hockey community in San Antonio."

Local fans are attending games in larger numbers than before. Freshman forward Henry Pinkerman called the crowd energy the coolest thing he has seen. He said, "I think that with the amount of fans we get and how loud they get, it’s pretty sweet."

Sorce said the support from the community has exceeded what he expected. He said, "I would’ve never thought that San Antonio would bring that kind of fire, but that’s what we’re about here."

The team plans to continue building its program. It aims to keep growing its fan base and help strengthen youth hockey in South Texas. The goal is to keep local talent developing in a city that still wants the sport.