For some, ice hockey conjures up images of high-speed collisions, yelling, and knocked-out teeth.
For veteran players, this isn’t the reality – even though their games often include a lot of trash talk.
“The game at the college level and in the pros is called ‘confrontation hockey,’ you know, you’re going against other people, getting physical,” said Paul Wisneskey, 55, the team’s goaltender. “We don’t play any games in these leagues, so it’s really more of no contact. I mean, there’s going to be some pushing and shoving and things happen, but it’s not the rough and tumble sport you see on TV in the pros.”
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Wisniewski points out that these rules make the game more difficult because you have to play better — “You can’t just be a bully.”
He said members of the Old Timers, a small group of hockey enthusiasts who gather every Sunday at the Genova Chavez Community Center in Santa Fe, respect the different skill levels, especially since some players are in their 70s.
On Monday, several “old-timers” on the team for those ages 50 and older put on their skates and became Team Santa Fe, known as the “No Regretskys” at the New Mexico Senior Games. They went head-to-head against three teams composed of players over the age of 50 from Los Alamos, Taos and Albuquerque in an exhibition game and a finals game.
The No Regretskys made it to the finals, which ended in a tie – Santa Fe and Taos both had 2 points.
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“I wish we had more time to resolve this for good, but in a way, this feels like a fitting ending,” Wisniewski said.
The game comes on the heels of a resurgence of enthusiasm for hockey across the United States, with both the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams winning gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics. It was the United States’ first gold medal in men’s hockey since the 1980 Olympics.
Monday marks the first day of the New Mexico Senior Games 2026 Winter Games in Santa Fe, which through Thursday will feature more than 500 athletes competing in multiple sports including air rifle, 8-ball pool and weightlifting.
It’s also hockey’s only spot on the tournament calendar.
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This year marks the second Winter Games of the Senior Olympics. (There are also summer games and bowling tournaments.) Last year, there were only two hockey teams — from Santa Fe and Taos, Wisniski said.
He hopes the increased turnout this year will inspire more teams next year.
“I think everyone is excited to see it and get more people on board,” Wisniski said. “We’d love to be able to see the southern region of the state – there have to be teams as well. Can we get it to the point where we could potentially have regional playoffs and finals and rotate between here and Las Cruces?”
Everyone’s journey to “old time” is different. There are people of all ages and experience levels in the group, and there are even some parent-child combinations.
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Wieski joined the organization after he and his wife moved to New Mexico. He hasn’t played hockey since his late 20s or early 30s.
“I did walk through it on the road [Arroyo de los Chamisos Trail]I heard the sound of hockey coming from the GCC,” he recalled. “And then going back there and finding out it was just a great little community, but with a really great group of people. “
But for DJ Ennis, 54, playing hockey didn’t become a part of his life until his 42nd birthday. A work friend encouraged him to sign up, and he’s been playing for 12 years now. Ennis is a member of the Old Timers and plays Monday with the No Regretskys.
“I really found my friends and a fun way to exercise and hang out and make friends,” Ennis said.
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Monday marks Ennis’ first senior Olympics. He said he enjoyed hanging out with some of the people he already knew and meeting new people.
He described the Santa Fe hockey community as “really great,” despite its small size. He said there are only a few hundred players on the roster, a small number compared to places like Durango, Colorado.
“For that reason, you get to know each other and how they play, and you swap teams a lot,” Ennis said.
He also described the Chavez Center as a “top” place to play hockey — despite the rink’s problems over the past few years. In the summer and fall of 2025, the rink was closed for several months due to cooling tower and dehumidifier failures, causing outcry from some groups who regularly used the rink.
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“The city really put resources into this and they found a new contractor that specializes in ice equipment,” Ennis said. “Despite the issues that the rink has had, I’m really happy that the city is keeping the hockey community and the skating community going.”
Wisniewski echoed that sentiment, noting that the Chavez Center ice is one of the best ice surfaces he’s ever played on.
He also encourages more people to try the sport, regardless of age.
He said the Santa Fe hockey community regularly holds learn-to-skate and learn-to-play classes and even provides loaner equipment for those who don’t have their own equipment.
“It’s like football on fast forward,” he said. “It’s very fast and it’s a very dynamic sport.”