Building a Competitive Team From Scratch: A Breakdown of New Mexico's Inaugural Roster

Tonight’s puck drop at the Rio Rancho Events Center will be historic as it kicks off the New Mexico Goatheads’ inaugural season.

While expectations should be lowered for an expansion team, New Mexico has assembled a roster that could be more competitive than a typical first-year club. The organization also has an important advantage: its affiliation with the Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Eagles, giving the Goatheads access to a strong development system and the possibility of receiving talented prospects throughout the season.

Leadership

The Goatheads revealed their first leadership team would be Derek Daschke, Trevor Zins and Jake Chiasson.

Daschke shouldn’t be a surprise as a pick of captain due to his experience in the ECHL and an amazing season this past year. Derek Daschke is particularly important after being named a First Team All-ECHL defenseman last season. This will not be his first captain position, with past positions for the Chicago Steel and Miami University (Ohio). Having an established top defenseman on an expansion roster gives New Mexico someone capable of playing difficult minutes against opposing top lines.

Trevor Zins appeared in 65 games last season and recorded 17 points while gaining experience with Idaho, Greensboro and Indy. He has more than 200 ECHL games under his belt and has demonstrated the ability to play in different situations.

Chiasson has played over 140 professional games for five different teams across the ECHL and AHL. Last season he recorded two goals and seven assists in 34 games within the ECHL and AHL. 

Other Important Faces

Besides the leadership team, there are plenty of faces that could be beneficial for this team.

Francesco Arcuri immediately stands out as one of the team's most important offensive players. He scored 22 goals and 43 points in 60 games with Idaho last season and has already accumulated 119 points in 154 career ECHL games. His experience should make him one of the players New Mexico relies upon heavily in offensive situations. 

Evan Friesen could be another major offensive piece. The 22-year-old scored 27 goals and 46 points in 72 games with the Utah Grizzlies during his rookie professional season. His 27 goals ranked second on Utah and third among all ECHL rookies, making him an intriguing candidate to lead New Mexico in goals. Because Friesen remains in the Avalanche organization on an AHL contract, the Goatheads could also benefit from having a young player with legitimate upward potential. 

Another forward to keep an eye on is Maxim Barbashev. He recorded 21 points in 50 ECHL games last season and has the size and physical style to become an important middle-six contributor. The younger brother of NHL forward Ivan Barbashev, Maxim enters his third full professional season and has already received some AHL experience. New Mexico will need players like him to turn offensive opportunities into consistent production.

The Goatheads also have plenty of veteran leadership. Tyler Drevitch brings nearly 300 ECHL games of experience and 596 career penalty minutes. He is unlikely to be the team's leading scorer, but his physical play, energy and familiarity with the league should be valuable for a young expansion roster.

Defense May be Their Key to Success

The defensive line may ultimately determine how competitive New Mexico can be. The Goatheads have several defensemen with professional experience, including Derek Daschke, Trevor Zins, Emmett Serensits, Aaron Chiarot, Noah Barlage, Edvin Nilsson and Chris Hedden.

Emmett Serensits brings winning experience. He was part of the Trois-Rivières Lions' 2025 Kelly Cup championship team and previously served as a captain at the University of Toronto. His familiarity with Head Coach Zack Stortini, dating back to their time together with the Sudbury Wolves, could also make him an important piece of the team's defensive identity. 

One of the more intriguing young defenders is Edvin Nilsson. The 20-year-old is coming off a 43-point season between Vernon and Chilliwack in the BCHL and was named Chilliwack's Top Defenseman. His offensive ability from the blue line could provide an important boost to New Mexico's transition game and power play.

As always, only time will tell how this team will work together but there are hopes they can have a decent inaugural season.