By Kevin Hendricks — The Paper.
Professional hockey returns to New Mexico this fall when the Goatheads drop the puck on their inaugural ECHL season Oct. 16 at the Rio Rancho Events Center — bringing the state its first pro hockey team since the New Mexico Scorpions folded in 2009.
The team released its full 72-game schedule this week, anchored by an Opening Weekend against the Idaho Steelheads from Oct. 16–18. The first 6,000 fans through the doors Oct. 16 receive commemorative LED glow rods. Saturday’s first 3,000 get rally towels. Sunday’s first 3,000 receive team posters, followed by a post-game autograph session with players.
“Our entire organization has been looking forward to this moment since day one,” said General Manager Jared Johnson. “To officially have Opening Night on the calendar makes everything feel real. October 16 is going to be an incredible night for our fans, our partners, and the entire state of New Mexico.”
A year in the making
The Goatheads were announced as an ECHL expansion franchise last May. What followed was less visible but essential: building out staffing, ticketing infrastructure and corporate partnerships before the team had anything to put on the ice.
That changed last September when the organization unveiled its name, logo, and brand identity at a public event that drew more than 1,500 fans. Merchandise moved quickly. The team’s social following surpassed 17,000 across platforms, generating more than 4 million impressions statewide.
A February announcement confirmed affiliations with the Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Eagles, giving the organization its development pipeline and adding credibility on the hockey side. The team also introduced Billy, its mascot, who has become a fixture at community events.
The business side has kept pace. The Goatheads have secured more than 45 corporate partnerships and are approaching 1,700 season ticket deposits — steady growth that the organization says reflects rising interest as puck drop approaches.
What the schedule looks like
The Goatheads play 36 games at the Rio Rancho Events Center across the regular season, with the Tahoe Knight Monsters visiting eight times — more than any other opponent. The Idaho Steelheads come to town six times; the Wichita Thunder five times.
Highlights on the home schedule include a Thanksgiving week homestand against the Florida Everblades in November and a post-holiday series against Tahoe in late December. The regular season home finale is April 10, 2027, against Tahoe.
“When you play the same opponents multiple times throughout the season, rivalries form naturally,” Johnson said. “We cannot wait to drop the puck on October 16 and share that moment with hockey fans across New Mexico.”
For more on how the Goatheads built toward their first season, see our earlier coverage. The full schedule is available at the team’s website.
Goatheads Opening Weekend — Rio Rancho Events Center
- Friday, Oct. 16 — 7 p.m. vs. Idaho Steelheads (first 6,000 fans: LED glow rods; first 3,000: magnet schedules)
- Saturday, Oct. 17 — 7 p.m. vs. Idaho Steelheads (first 3,000 fans: rally towels)
- Sunday, Oct. 18 — 3 p.m. vs. Idaho Steelheads (first 3,000 fans: team posters + post-game autograph session)
Tickets: nmgoatheads.com/tickets