Billy and the Avs: Goatheads announce NHL affiliation, reveal mascot

RIO RANCHO — The Block was hopping Saturday afternoon as New Mexico hockey fans arrived in droves to hear the latest major announcements from the New Mexico Goatheads, the state's new minor league hockey franchise starting this coming season.

The first bit of news was that the Goatheads — who will play in the ECHL, considered the third tier, or AA, of American hockey — will be affiliated with the Colorado Avalanche at the pro level, and the Colorado Eagles at the AHL level (the equivalent of baseball's AAA.) The Avalanche were previously affiliated with the Utah Grizzlies at the ECHL level.

“This partnership is about opportunity and growth,” said Jared Johnson, general manager of the New Mexico Goatheads. “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 Avalanche have 37 wins, tied for the most in the NHL this season, and are atop the Western Conference standings. 

The second bit of news, and the real reason for the crowd, according to the cheers and screams of the countless children in attendance, was the introduction of the Goatheads mascot: Billy the Billy Goat.

Billy arrived on stage at The Block in classic mascot fashion, dishing out high-fives and calling for crowd noise. Donning a tuft of bright blue hair, Billy was clad in the burgundy, steel blue and silver that make up the team colors — also the colors of the Colorado Avalanche.

“But Billy is missing one thing,” team reps announced from the stage. “You’ll notice he doesn’t have a number on his jersey. That’s up to you guys.”

The community can vote for Billy’s official jersey number on the Goatheads website, though if it were up to the fans in attendance, it would definitely be “6-7."

Saturday’s announcements are the latest developments for the team, which began forming in May 2025. A few months later, ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin and Kevin McDonald, Colorado Eagles general manager, began texting Johnson.

"And yes, I still have those (texts) saved on my phone," he said. "... And a few weeks later we got the confirmation we were hoping for; that the Avalanche wanted to be the NHL affiliate of your New Mexico Goatheads.”

The Goatheads are not the first minor league hockey team to try New Mexico as a development ground. The New Mexico Scorpions of the now-defunct CHL called Albuquerque and Rio Rancho home from 1996-2009

McDonald, also the Avalanche assistant general manager, said the organization is "super excited" to return in New Mexico.

"We see the ECHL franchise here in New Mexico as a crucial development pathway for players to develop here, go to the American League and then go play for the Colorado Avalanche, and we can’t wait.”

The 2026-27 ECHL season schedule has not been released. The current season will run through the end of February. 

The Goatheads will play a 72-game schedule and all home games — played at the Rio Rancho Events Center — will be broadcast on the big screen at The Block.

For updates and information, or to vote on Billy’s number, visit nmgoatheads.com.