By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Seventeen years after the Scorpions skated off, pro hockey returns to Rio Rancho on Friday, and the Goatheads already have a packed house waiting.
The New Mexico Goatheads host the Idaho Steelheads at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at the Rio Rancho Events Center in the first game in franchise history. Single-game tickets sold out, the team announced, with General Manager Jared Johnson calling the fan response “incredible.”
It’s Rio Rancho’s first pro hockey game since the New Mexico Scorpions folded in 2009.
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| The New Mexico Goatheads begin practice in their inaugural season Tuesday morning in Rio Rancho. Their first game will be on October 16th at the Rio Rancho Events Center. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales for the Paper |
Who’s on the ice
The Goatheads enter the ECHL as its 31st franchise and serve as the minor league affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, which assigned several players to New Mexico after their own camp.
Forward Grant Ahcan holds the title of O.G. — Original Goathead. The former St. Cloud State captain became the franchise’s first signing in July, and hockey runs in the family. Brother Jack plays in the Nashville Predators organization, and brother Roman skates for the Cleveland Monsters.
The team’s online roster lists 25 players: 13 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders, with Hunter Miska, Brian Wilson and Isaiah Saville in net.
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| The New Mexico Goatheads answered the question fans have been asking since day one: Zack Stortini will be the first head coach in franchise history, the team announced in June at a packed reveal party at The Block in Rio Rancho. (Julian Paras) |
Who’s behind the bench
Head Coach Zack Stortini played 257 NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators and won two AHL Calder Cups. He most recently worked as an assistant with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. Matt Register joins him as assistant coach.
Stortini promised a fast, gritty team when the franchise introduced him in June, and he put fans on the roster too. “You guys are the lifeblood that is going to make this a special year,” he told the crowd at The BLOCK.
What’s on the calendar
Friday launches a three-game Opening Weekend against Idaho, with games at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Early arrivals get swag all weekend: LED glow rods for the first 6,000 fans Friday, rally towels Saturday and team posters Sunday, plus a post-game autograph session.
Then the herd hits the road for three games at Tahoe, Oct. 23-25, before returning home Oct. 30-31 against the Rapid City Rush for Oktoberfest and Halloween theme nights.
The 72-game regular season includes 36 home dates. Tahoe visits Rio Rancho eight times, more than any other opponent, and closes the home slate April 10, 2027.
Fans shut out of Friday still have a way in. Limited Opening Night seats remain through full-, half- and quarter-season memberships, and single-game tickets remain for Saturday and Sunday. The BLOCK will be hosting Goatheads watch parties Oct. 23-25, Nov. 13-15 and 19-21.
Goatheads Opening Weekend vs. Idaho Steelheads
- Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. (single-game tickets sold out; season memberships only)
- Saturday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. (first 3,000 fans: rally towels)
- Sunday, Oct. 18, 3 p.m. (first 3,000 fans: team posters; first 2,500: Goatheads pucks; post-game autographs)
- Where: Rio Rancho Events Center, 3001 Civic Center Circle NE
- Single-game tickets: nmgoatheads.com/tickets/single
- Season, half and quarter memberships: nmgoatheads.com/tickets
- Can’t make the road trip? Away watch parties: nmgoatheads.com/watch-parties
- Full schedule and roster: nmgoatheads.com