Sean Gallagher played hockey for Chantilly High School and with his transfer to the newly built Westfield High School was looking for the new school to have a hockey team. His father, Bucky Gallagher a hockey coach and instructor, found himself leading the charge for the first Westfield hockey team. This duo was joined by the indomitable Michael Wisniewski and the entire Wisniewski clan (Mom - Leeza, Stephanie and Jennifer). Because of the efforts of these two families the Ice Dog era began!
Coach Gallagher worked for the next several months with the Wisniewski family to get the Club off the ground for the 2001 - 2002 season. The school was contacted for support, procedures and Club rules were drafted. The first official meeting took place in March 2001 at the Ashburn Ice House with Coach Gallagher, Bill Fleming, Bill Plummer, and Judy Rasmussen, who eventually became the first Team Manager. The next meeting was held at the school with Principle Dale Rumberger on April 5, 2001 to enlist the school's support to become a Club. Unfortunately this was not possible, but Mr. Rumberger agreed to work with the team as best he could because no Fairfax County schools were recognizing ice hockey as a club sport. Despite this setback the Ice Dogs became a reality!
The Westfield Ice Dogs Hockey Club officially joined the league in the fall of 2001. The team has been very competitive since its inception and has never fallen under .500 season. A very diverse mixture of talent from top travel ice hockey players, house players, and roller bladers has enabled the team be a perennial contender in the league. Equally as important is the fact that the Club despite no official status follows all Virginia scholastic rules/guidelines for the scholar/athletes. Since its inception the club has had 25 or more members in every season.
The first season saw the Ice Dogs make the playoffs but get eliminated in the first round. However, the season ended on a high note with the Ice Dogs winning a High School end of season tournament at the Ashburn Ice House. The 2002 - 2003 season re-affirmed the Clubs strength as an organization but this organizational success was not mirrored as well on the ice with the Ice Dogs finishing just out of the playoffs.
The Club's third season and it's most successful with an 8 - 2 record. The team was playing well on the ice and the addition of Josh Masley to the coaching staff as a teacher/coach representative was an important addition. The team's high hopes were unfortunately squashed again in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual NVSHL finalist, Forest Park. The players and coaches made a commitment to stay together and work on conditioning throughout the summer and have lived up to this promise. The 2004 - 2005 season started with a bang with the Ice Dogs winning the Reston Skatequest mini game HS tournament for the first time.