Broxton Ingle has been on skates since he was two years old.

Once the Denver native learned to appreciate the game, he’s improved each season and recently signed an NAHL tender agreement with the Philadelphia Rebels.

“I’m going back out to finish the season with them this year, so I’m hoping that will give me some good time to adjust with no pressure,” Ingle said. “I think my game translates well to the next level and especially in the NA. I’m going to use my size, strength and heavy skill to make a impact the rest of this year and next year.”

Ingle said that getting noticed by the Rebels happened innocently enough and the tender offer happened quickly.

“It started with their scout watching me and then passing my name onto them,” said Ingle. “They obviously watched their film and stuff and then invited me out to practice. I showed well at practice and then when I met with them at the end of the week, they offered a tender. The team playing in the East Division I think was the biggest appeal because of the amount of exposure to schools they have. They had nice facilities and I like all the staff and coaches. I also liked my billet a lot. Being near the city and relatively close to the coast was also an appeal. The appeal to the NA was that it is a high-level league that my play style fits best in.

“First off, I would say just playing juniors and having the juniors experience is what I’m looking forward to, but I’m also looking forward to being scouted by schools.”

And to think, playing hockey wasn’t the first sport that grabbed Ingle’s attention.

“I started skating when I was two with my parents on lakes and stuff,” Ingle said. “My dad played beer league and liked hockey, so I naturally wanted to play. Originally, the first sport I played was football when I was six. That season was always kind of in the way of hockey, so I didn’t start playing until I was nine, which is relatively old. My first season I was in ‘C’ house at DU. We won one game all year, but I loved it and just kept playing and wanted to get to the next level every year. I wouldn’t say the Avs had a huge part in my hockey career, but having a pro hockey team in our city was definitely inspiring and fun.”

Ingle started with the Jr. Pioneers and played there until Bantams. He then went to the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders when he was 14 and played there until his first 18U year. For the 2024-25 season, Ingle joined the Colorado Thunderbirds for his second 18U year.

“Obviously, I have had a lot of coaches and all of them have been critical in my development and career,” explained Ingle. “The first person who stands out is my first coach Shawn Reid. He stands out because I feel like he was the first coach that really believed and saw something in me. Then having Steve Quailer, I learned a lot about my identity and what kind of hockey player I could be. Then playing for Doug Smail, I learned a lot about the mental strength and mindset it takes to play the game at a high level as well as the importance of executing every detail. Then this past year playing for the T-Birds having Phil (Patenaude) and Jordan (Pietrus) have definitely taught me how to play free within my style as well as they have done a great job promoting me to teams at the next level.

“This season was an absolute blast. I feel every year I play at a higher level, I have more and more fun. Every year, it’s a bigger and bigger commitment and more and more is demanded, but I have found that is what makes it so much more fun and rewarding. I think having this realization will help me enjoy junior hockey as well as help my performance in junior hockey.”

Going forward, Ingle wants to keep climbing the hockey ladder.

“A short-term goal for me is to show my ability in the next weeks of practice and get into games here at the end of the season,” said Ingle. “Long-term goal is to play NCAA D-I college hockey.”

Photo/Jill P. Mott

— Matt Mackinder

(March 13, 2025)