The History of Menace 2 Sobriety
In the spring of 2015, Matt Morgaues, Hector Martinez, and Jeff Johnstone played together on an MCHL adult hockey team. As Omaha’s adult hockey scene grew, more tournaments started popping up, and they wanted in on the action. However, many local club teams were either full or not interested in adding novice players. So, the guys decided to start their own club—Menace 2 Sobriety.
The first Menace team was made up mostly of their MCHL teammates, along with a few others to round out the roster. Without official jerseys, they hit the ice in their red MCHL sweaters for their first tournament—the 2015 Jolly Roger. Around this time, Hector also organized a weekly drop-in skate at Tranquility Ice Rink, and the first official Menace jersey order was placed, marking the club’s first step toward legitimacy.
By the fall of 2015, Omaha’s brand-new Grover Ice Rink was looking for teams, and Hector and Matt decided to move their weekly skate there. From that point on, the club exploded.
By the summer of 2016, Menace had grown so much that they decided to host their own tournament, the Hot as Hell Summer Classic. In March 2017, the club won its first of many championships, taking down the Lincoln St. Patrick’s Day Tournament.
As Menace continued to expand, Hector established a Board of Directors in 2018 to help manage the club’s growing operations. Today, Menace 2 Sobriety has chapters in Edmonton (AB, Canada), Pittsburgh (PA), and Denver (CO). Its members hail from across the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, and Ukraine, and over 400 players have skated for Menace teams over the past decade.
During that time, the club has captured 21 tournament championships at every level and added a second tournament to its schedule—the Erin Go Bardownski, held in late March.
More Than Just Hockey
Menace 2 Sobriety isn’t just about winning games—it’s about giving back and bringing people together. Over the past 10 years, the club has raised over $20,000 for charity, primarily through its Christmas Eve Skate, an annual tradition that supports local causes.
The club also hosts Menace Mania, an inter-club tournament with a unique theme each year, bringing players together for fun, competition, and ridiculous costumes.
Off the ice, Menace throws some of the best parties in the beer league world. The annual Chili Cookoff is a legendary battle of flavors, while the Cheeseburger and Liquor Party has earned its reputation as the greatest beer league party in the United States.
A Club Built on Community
From a small group of players looking for ice time to an internationally connected club with multiple chapters, tournament banners, and a dedication to charity and camaraderie, Menace 2 Sobriety is more than a hockey team—it’s a family. And whether it's on the ice, at the grill, or raising a glass, Menace continues to prove that the best teams aren’t just built on talent, but on community, passion, and a love for the game.
