New Mexico Goatheads announce home opener date
The New Mexico Goatheads will make their debut Friday, Oct. 16 at the Rio Rancho Events Center. The puck will drop at 7 p.
m. This is the first game in the ECHL expansion franchise’s history and marks the return of professional hockey to New Mexico for the first time in nearly two decades. The first 6,000 fans in attendance to the Goatheads’ first game will receive LED glow rods.
The ECHL will announce the opponent and full 2026–27 schedule later this week. The Goatheads — affiliates of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and the AHL’s Colorado Eagles — will play a 72-game schedule and all home games will be played at the Rio Rancho Events Center. For tickets and information, visit nmgoatheads.
com . More on the Goatheads * 'How did we get here? ': A look into Rio Rancho, Avalanche hockey history following affiliation New Mexico, Colorado hockey history now links up * OFFICIAL: Goatheads an affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche The road to the NHL will go through Rio Rancho * Goatheads reveal set for Feb.
21, free event at THE BLOCK New Mexico's newest team will reveal its NHL partner