Big things are happening in New Mexico hockey. The state's newest team, the New Mexico Goatheads, just dropped their full schedule for their debut 2026-27 season in the ECHL—think AA baseball but on ice.

This week has been a whirlwind for the franchise. Not only did their NHL parent club, the Colorado Avalanche, punch a ticket to the conference finals Wednesday night, but the Goatheads followed it up Thursday by unveiling their inaugural 72-game slate.

Mark your calendars for October 16, 2026. That's when the Goatheads will hit the ice for the first time ever, hosting the Idaho Steelheads at the Rio Rancho Events Center. Puck drops at 7 p.m., and the first 6,000 fans through the doors will snag LED glow rods to light up the arena.

The schedule is packed with can't-miss dates. Thanksgiving week features a Black Friday showdown on November 27, and the team will skate in back-to-back post-Christmas games on December 26 and 27. The regular season wraps up on April 10, 2027, with a home finale against the Tahoe Knight Monsters.

All 36 home games will be played at the Rio Rancho Events Center, and fans who can't make it to the rink can catch every home game broadcast on the big screen at The Block. For the full schedule and updates, head to nmgoatheads.com.