New Mexico Goatheads

Formation Attempts to form an ECHL expansion team in Rio Rancho by a different ownership group were first reported in 2022 with intent to play in 2023, which never materialized. New Mexico Goatheads was announced as the winning name on September 29, 2025. ==Venue==

The Goatheads will play their home games at the Rio Rancho Events Center, a multi-purpose venue located in the heart of Rio Rancho. The arena, which has a seating capacity of 7,000, is a central hub for sports and entertainment in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Owned by the City of Rio Rancho and operated by Global Spectrum, the venue has hosted a variety of sports events, including professional hockey in the past. ==Affiliations==

While the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL) were announced as official consultants in hockey operations and player development, the Goatheads were not expected to be the Stars' ECHL affiliate as Dallas had extended their long-running affiliation with the ECHL Idaho Steelheads through 2027, marking 23 years of affiliation. The Goatheads did not initially announce an affiliate. In February 2026, they announced their affiliation agreement with the Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Eagles, beginning with the 2026–27 NHL season. ==References==