The ECHL introduced on Friday that the League’s Board of Governors has authorized the growth software of Rio Rancho, New Mexico for admittance into the League. The membership will start play within the 2026-27 Season.
REV Leisure’s Sports activities Administration division will oversee all crew operations. The Dallas Stars will function hockey operations consultants to REV Leisure for the launch of the crew. REV at the moment operates two groups within the American Affiliation of Skilled Baseball – the Cleburne Railroaders and Kane County Cougars – and beforehand served as a managing accomplice for the ECHL’s Allen People.
The crew’s official title will likely be decided by means of a “Title the Staff” contest, now open to followers at NMProHockey.com.
“It’s with nice pleasure that the League welcomes REV Leisure, and the New Mexico area, to the ECHL as our thirty first Member Staff, as we progress the expansion of the League to align with the Nationwide Hockey League and American Hockey League,” mentioned ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. “REV has a confirmed observe report of managing skilled sports activities groups on the highest degree, and we’re thrilled with their dedication to deliver skilled hockey again to the state of New Mexico. This growth speaks to the expansion of our recreation all through the continent, and will likely be an thrilling addition to our rivalries within the Mountain Division, and a geographic match for Affiliation growth.”
“At present marks a major milestone for REV Leisure and the ECHL,” mentioned REV Leisure President Sean Decker. “We’re extremely excited to deliver skilled hockey again to New Mexico and to broaden the ECHL’s footprint with the league’s thirty first Member. The Rio Rancho neighborhood has a wealthy historical past with the game, and we sit up for constructing a crew that will likely be a supply of pleasure for followers throughout the area. We will’t wait to drop the puck in 2026!”
The New Mexico Skilled Hockey Membership will start play within the 2026-27 Season on the Rio Rancho Occasions Middle, a 7,000-seat enviornment situated lower than 30 miles from Albuquerque, New Mexico. The world beforehand hosted the Central Hockey League’s New Mexico Scorpions from 2006-09 and the North American Hockey League’s New Mexico Mustangs from 2010-12. The venue continues to host sporting occasions, concert events, and different reside leisure.
