RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) – Goatheads, Cutthroats, or Tarantula Hawks. Those are the team names that are being considered by the New Mexico Professional Hockey Club.
The club asked fans to submit names in May, and the club narrowed the nearly 2,000 submissions down to three options. Now, fans will be able to vote on which name they would like the team to adopt.
New Mexico Professional Hockey Club provided the following descriptions for each name:
Goatheads
Description: “Inspired by the goathead thorn—a relentless desert weed that’s nearly impossible to kill—and the wild ibex goat—a symbol of survival in harsh, mountainous terrain.”
Cutthroats
Description: “A nod to the Rio Grande cutthroat trout, New Mexico’s state fish, known for its aggressive nature and striking colors.”
Tarantula Hawks
Description: “The tarantula hawk, New Mexico’s state insect, is one of the Southwest’s most formidable predators. This large wasp is known for having one of the most painful stings in the world.”
The New Mexico Professional Hockey Club will begin playing during the 2026-2027 ECHL season at the Rio Rancho Events Center. The franchise will be the first professional hockey team in New Mexico since the New Mexico Scorpions.
Voting on the team name closes at 5 p.m. MT on Thursday, July 3. Click here to submit your pick.
