The weather remains sunny and humid locally but, believe it or not, the ice hockey season is soon to face off, very soon, in fact.
The San Diego State University men’s team is scheduled to host Grand Canyon University this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19-20, at the Kroc Center Ice Arena. It’s the first of 13 home games scheduled at the complex just blocks west of Helix Charter High School.
Friday’s game faces off at 7:30 p.m., while the teams will drop the puck at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Aztecs will compete in their fourth season at the Division I level in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. It remains the highest level for men’s college club play.
SDSU finished 1-20-1 in its first season at the ACHA Men’s-1 level in 2022-23 with a young team playing a challenging schedule that included an East Coast road trip. The Aztecs appeared more grounded in their second year in the division and skated to a much more eye-appealing 8-14-1 mark.
SDSU completed last season, its first as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey League, one of the ACHA’s toughest divisions, with a 5-23-1 record.
It’s been a learning experience and it isn’t over yet.
The road remains a challenge again this season. But Aztec head coach Dean Wilson, back for his second season with the club, believes his team is up for the challenge.
“Our main goal this year is to win more conference games and stay competitive across the board,” said Wilson, a Granite Hills High School alumnus, whose team is fresh off tryouts Aug. 26-28 at the Kroc Center. “The boys are motivated and ready to build off last season.”
Key returners in 2025-26 include forward Brandon Grant and defenseman Ryan Elleraas,
Grant chalked up nine points (six goals, three assists) in 27 games last season.
Elleraas, a team captain, missed most of last season due to injury, recording a goal and assist in seven games.
“Having that leadership and experience back in the lineup would make a big difference,” Wilson said in putting last season’s record into perspective.
Forwards Cameron Ferraz and Mason Brown keyed the fortunes of the team last season — Ferraz, a Phoenix native, with a team-leading 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) and Brown, from Surrey, B.C., Canada, with 17 points (eight goals, nine assists), both in 25 games.
Forwards Lucas Bellig (five goals, eight assists) and Marcus Kim (one goal, 12 assists) finished in a tie for third in team scoring last season with 13 points apiece.
As far as new recruits, the Aztecs have added forward Luke Cannon (Edmonton, Alberta) and defenseman Mason Lambert (Upland) to the 2025-26 lineup.
Cannon proved he can burn rubber with 52 points (21 goals, 31 assists) in 37 games last season with the Ontario Jr. Reign in the United States Prospects Hockey League.
Lambert collected 25 points in 56 games at the 18U-AAA high school level last season with Fairmont Prep
“We’re also excited to have Logan Okanski returning for his senior year,” Wilson added.
Okanski appeared in five games for SDSU during the 2023-24 season.
On the game-day side, look for home games to become a bit more festive. “We’ve brought on a new team manager, who’s already working on gameday productions and planning theme nights,” the SDSU coach said. “We’re also in contact with the dance team to help boost the atmosphere at the rink.”
The Aztecs’ home slate includes games against Grand Canyon University, Arizona (Oct. 3-4), Utah (Oct. 24-25), UC-San Diego (Oct. 31), UNLV (Dec. 5-6), Central Oklahoma (Jan. 30-31) and Oregon (Feb. 20-21).
UNLV is the defending Division I national champion.
