When Boise State men’s hockey takes the ice, the team brings more than just skill and speed — they’re building a culture that will shape leaders.
Head coach Darrell Hay noted he has pushed his players to challenge each other and develop themselves into champions. His approach is less about the dynamic of the sport and more about building character and accountability.“The reward is seeing these guys improve and pushing them to a place where high goals and standards are expected,” Hay said.
That mindset carried into the offseason. The Broncos opened with a week-long training camp known among players as “Hell Week”, designed to test both physical endurance and mental toughness. Players hit the Lincoln turf at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday for conditioning and cap the week with multiple scrimmages.
Sophomore captain Jackson Howell said that those early mornings and long days were about discovering who was truly bought in. “It was about seeing who was willing to push for the guy next to him,” he said.
Senior Micah Crum said the demanding week revealed the team’s identity. “It really showed who could handle the mental side of it — who was willing to push through and commit,” he said.
Leadership has become a defining feature of Boise State hockey. Hay described the program as “student-led”, with players running leadership meetings. Instead of relying solely on coaches, the team turns to its captains and veterans to guide the group.
For Howell, the 2025 season is about stepping fully into the captain’s role. Howell spent time studying leadership models, even looking outside of hockey for inspiration..
“I’m trying to apply more of that, leading by example and keeping guys accountable,” he said.
Crum, meanwhile, views leadership as leaving the program in better shape than he found it.
“Being a senior, I want to leave the program in a better place. That’s been the goal for me — building the culture and making sure the program is stronger for the next guys coming in,” he said.
Between early workouts, travel and games, academics remain at the forefront. The program uses weekly grade checks to ensure players stay eligible and committed in the classroom.
“If you’re not meeting expectations, you’re deemed ineligible,” Howell explained. “Although, if we notice that a kid is struggling, then usually we will reach out and find out, ‘What can we do to help?’ or ‘Is there anything you can do to get your grade up?’”
The standard has been important. Howell and Crum preach that weekly grade checks keep everyone honest and focused on school while handling the demands of hockey.
Hay sees that requirement as more than a rule. He believes it prepares players for life beyond hockey, teaching them how to manage priorities while keeping standards high.
The sting of narrowly missing regionals last season has lingered. Players admitted being just one spot short fueled their offseason work.
“The goal now is to qualify for regionals and push toward nationals,” Crum said.
Howell framed it as both a performance and cultural goal.
“Competing at that higher level shows the payoff of the accountability and structure we’ve committed to,” he said, adding reaching regionals would prove the culture the seniors helped build is taking root.
As the puck drops on a new season, Boise State men’s hockey is stepping onto the ice with a clear identity of student-led culture built from consistency in their leadership. The offseason grind, combined with a player-driven vision, has given the Broncos a foundation they believe can strengthen their results and back up the team’s goals.
“We’ve worked hard to build the culture we have now,” Howell said. “It’s all about leaving the program better than we found it, that’s the goal every time we step on the ice.”
