Photo Courtesy of the ECHL [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/6116c3cd-950c-46bb-902a-be8f14b0c7d7.png] Photo Courtesy of the ECHL On the day the Kelly Cup Division Finals [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/2025-kelly-cup-division-finals-schedule-announced]kick off, the ECHL had more big news to share. The league announced Friday morning that the Board of Governors has approved the expansion application of Rio Rancho, New Mexico for admittance into the ECHL [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/]. The club will begin play in the 2026-27 Season. The New Mexico franchise will begin play in 2026-27. REV Entertainment’s Sports Management division will oversee all team operations. The Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars]will serve as hockey operations consultants to REV Entertainment for the launch of the team. REV currently operates two teams in the American Association of Professional Baseball – the Cleburne Railroaders and Kane County Cougars – and previously served as a managing partner for the ECHL’s Allen Americans [https://allenamericans.com/]. The team’s official name will be determined through a “Name the Team” contest, now open to fans at NMProHockey.com [https://www.nmprohockey.com/]. REV Entertainment President Sean Decker added, “today marks a significant milestone for REV Entertainment and the ECHL. We are incredibly excited to bring professional hockey back to New Mexico and to expand the ECHL’s footprint with the league’s 31st Member. The Rio Rancho community has a rich history with the sport, and we look forward to building a team that will be a source of pride for fans across the region. We can’t wait to drop the puck in 2026!” The New Mexico Professional Hockey Club will begin play in the 2026-27 Season at the Rio Rancho Events Center, a 7,000-seat arena located less than 30 miles from Albuquerque, New Mexico. The arena previously 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 events, concerts, and other live entertainment.
