'A really compelling opportunity': Plans for ECHL's New Mexico Hockey Club unveiled

There wasn’t a ceremonial puck drop Tuesday at Rio Rancho Events Center. Matter of fact, there won’t be until October 2026, when pro hockey makes its formal return to New Mexico.

There was the celebratory air to match one, however, as plans for the ECHL’s New Mexico Hockey Club were announced Tuesday in a press conference at the team’s future home arena.

Set to play in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) — a Double-A farm league for the NHL and Triple-A AHL — the team will be owned and run by REV Entertainment, a Dallas-based sports and entertainment company.

Multiple REV representatives, including president Sean Decker, were on hand Tuesday to discuss the club, the first professional hockey venture in the state since the Central Hockey League’s New Mexico Scorpions ceased operations in 2009.

Decker said it wasn’t a secret that professional hockey “desired” to return to Rio Rancho, with multiple ownership groups expressing interest in recent years. But after being introduced to the possibility two years ago, he said the opportunity to establish the state’s only pro hockey team and previous hockey success in the area piqued his interest.

From there, Rio Rancho’s population density, the region’s strong corporate base and success of existing teams like the Albuquerque Isotopes and New Mexico United also appealed as REV — notably the booking agent for Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers — evaluated the possibility of a team.

“You start putting all those things together and it becomes a really compelling opportunity,” Decker said Tuesday.

From the league’s perspective, ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin said a New Mexico-based club fit neatly into plans for western expansion since the league lost two California-based teams to the American Hockey League.

“That left our teams in Idaho and Utah a little bit on an island,” he said. “We were able to bring in (the Tahoe Knight Monsters in Stateline, Nevada) last year (and) adding New Mexico for 2026-27 really helps complete the (eight-team) Mountain Division.”

The plan, Decker said, was always to operate out of Rio Rancho. “(Rio Rancho Events Center) is a world class facility that does amazing events,” he said. “Candidly, for us, Rio Rancho was always the ideal location, and we're proud to be here.”

And the plan now?

Make it New Mexico's team.

“We are not here to bring a Texas-based strategy from a Texas-based company to a New Mexico market,” Decker said. “This team will be hyperlocal.”

What’s next?

Led by new general manager Jared Johnson, Crelin said the club’s first six months will be spent securing season ticket holders and sponsors. Hockey operations staff — including coaches — won’t be hired until spring 2026, and the process will “pick up” ahead of New Mexico’s first season in 2026-27.

The Dallas Stars will help advise the team’s hockey operations as the club is established, but won’t serve as the team’s NHL affiliation. Only three NHL clubs currently do not have ECHL affiliates. New Mexico will align with a club by spring or summer 2026, according to Crelin.

It’s unclear which of the NHL’s 32 teams they might affiliate with.

“You’ll have some teams’ affiliations expiring (in summer 2026). They may be looking for a partner in the west,” Crelin added.

And how will a team name be selected?

Fans can suggest potential names via a submission form at nmprohockey.com. The club plans on whittling down upwards of 100 already-submitted names to four or five finalists before announcing a name this summer.

If there are any team names leading the race, Crelin said he isn't aware of them.

“They don’t let me in that game,” Crelin chuckled. “That’s for the team to decide.”