Goatheads announce full schedule for inaugural 2026-27 season
It’s been a big week for the New Mexico Goatheads, the state’s new ECHL hockey team scheduled to begin play in the 2026-27 season. The minor league hockey squad — the ECHL is the hockey equivalent of baseball’s AA level — is the affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche who, on Wednesday night, defeated the Minnesota Wild to punch its ticket to the conference finals in pursuit of the Stanley Cup. Then, on Thursday, the Goatheads announced the full schedule for their inaugural season.
The Goatheads’ first-ever game will take place Oct. 16 at the Rio Rancho Events Center — the team’s home ice — against the Idaho Steelheads. Puck drop is at 7 p.
m. and the first 6,000 fans in attendance will receive LED glow rods. The final game of the season is April 10, 2027 against the Tahoe Knight Monsters.
It’s also the Goathead’s last home game of the season. The schedule includes several marquee dates, including Thanksgiving Week home games, a Black Friday matchup (Nov. 27), and post-Christmas games (Dec.
26 and 27). The Goatheads will play a 72-game schedule and all 36 home games — played at the RREC — will be broadcast on the big screen at The Block. For updates and information, visit nmgoatheads.