Arapahoe Youth Hockey Assoc.
Arvada Youth Hockey Assoc.
Aspen Junior Hockey Assoc.
Boulder Hockey Club
Cherry Creek Hockey Assoc.
City of Longmont Youth Hockey
Colorado Extreme
Colorado Monument Rebels
Colorado Rampage (Tier 1)
Colorado Springs AHA
Colorado Thunderbirds (Tier 1)
Denver Country Club
Denver Univ. Junior Pioneers
Durango Area Youth Hockey
Foothills Youth Hockey
Fraser Valley Hockey Assoc.
Glenwood Springs Hockey
Grand Junction Hockey Club
Greeley Youth Hockey
Heritage High School Hockey
High Plains Hockey League
Hyland Hills Hockey Assoc.
Lafayette Hockey Club
Littleton Youth Hockey
Mountain Selects Youth Hockey
Northern Colorado (NOCO)
Oak Creek Hockey Association
Okanagan Colorado (Tier 1)
Peak to Peak Hockey
Pikes Peak Catamounts Hockey
Pueblo Bulls Youth Hockey
Regis Jesuit Hockey Assoc.
Rocky Mnt. Roughriders (Tier 1)
San Luis Valley Hockey
Steamboat Springs Hockey
Summit Youth Hockey Club
Team Colorado HC (Girls Tier 1)
Telluride Lizard Head HC
Vail Eagle Hockey Association
Vista Hockey Club (HS)
West Elk Wolverines
Woodland Park Hockey Assoc.
New Mexico Goatheads named Avalanche ECHL affiliate, starting with 2026-27 season
The NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, in conjunction with the ECHL and the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, announced today that the New Mexico Goatheads will serve as the Avalanche’s ECHL affiliate, beginning with the 2026-27 season.
The teams agreed on a multi-year agreement.
The Goatheads are an expansion franchise and will play at the Rio Rancho Events Center in Rio Rancho, N.M. It marks the first time a professional hockey team will compete in the state of New Mexico since 2009 when the New Mexico Scorpions played from 1996-97 – 2004-05 and 2006-07 – 2008-09. The ECHL announced it would be awarding an expansion club to Rio Rancho on May 2, 2025, and the franchise established their name in a reveal on Sept. 29, 2025.
“The ECHL is a key part of the Avalanche-Eagles player development equation, and we’re excited to establish this multi-year partnership with the New Mexico Goatheads,” said Avalanche assistant GM and Eagles GM Kevin McDonald. “We were impressed with the Albuquerque market when we were evaluating options, and Rio Rancho will provide a strong environment for players to grow both on and off the ice.”
“This partnership is about opportunity and growth,” added Goatheads GM Jared Johnson. “Aligning with the Avalanche on a multi-year agreement gives our players a defined development path while delivering high-level hockey to our fans from day one.”
The Utah Grizzlies previously served as the Avalanche’s ECHL affiliate from 2018-26. The club’s secondary affiliate has hailed from the ECHL every season dating back to 2014-15.
Four Avalanche players who have appeared in games for the team in 2025-26 are ECHL alumni in Scott Wedgewood, Mackenzie Blackwood, Trent Miner and Jack Ahcan. Additionally, head coach Jared Bednar’s previous hockey experience includes playing in the ECHL over parts of the 1993-98 and 1999-02 campaigns as well as coaching in various capacities from 2002-09. Bednar is also a member of the ECHL Hall of Fame. Avalanche assistant coach Nolan Pratt played in the ECHL for part of the 1995-96 season.