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The New Mexico Goatheads are nearing the halfway point of their roster build.
The Colorado Avalanche’s ECHL affiliate announced the signing of forward Briley Wood on Tuesday and left winger Maxim Barbashev on Friday.
The two are the seventh and eighth players, respectively, to join the first-year franchise, which begins its season Oct. 16 at the Rio Rancho Events Center. ECHL teams are allowed a maximum of 20 players — 18 skaters and two goaltenders — after the first month of the regular season.
Wood, a 23-year-old Canadian, spent last season with the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush and recorded 10 goals and 22 assists in 71 games. The 6-foot-3, 188-pound forward appeared in 72 games with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies in 2024-25, where he recorded 20 goals and 27 assists. He also played in one game with the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate.
Barbashev, a 22-year-old from Moscow, is the younger brother of Vegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev. The elder Barbashev is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the 2019 St. Louis Blues and the 2023 Golden Knights. He played for a third last season.
The younger Barbashev, meanwhile, split 2025-26 between the Allen Americans and the Grizzlies. The 6-foot-1, 188-pound winger finished with nine goals and 12 assists in 50 ECHL games. He also appeared in three games with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners where Goatheads coach Zack Stortini was an assistant.
Barbashev spent 2024-25 with the ECHL’s Bloomington Bison (36 games, 3 goals, 5 assists) and the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack (6 games, 1 goal, 1 assist).
He was originally taken in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL draft by the New York Rangers.
David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at [email protected] or via X @DavidGlovach.
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The Colorado Avalanche’s ECHL affiliate announced the signing of forward Briley Wood on Tuesday and left winger Maxim Barbashev on Friday.
The two are the seventh and eighth players, respectively, to join the first-year franchise, which begins its season Oct. 16 at the Rio Rancho Events Center. ECHL teams are allowed a maximum of 20 players — 18 skaters and two goaltenders — after the first month of the regular season.
Wood, a 23-year-old Canadian, spent last season with the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush and recorded 10 goals and 22 assists in 71 games. The 6-foot-3, 188-pound forward appeared in 72 games with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies in 2024-25, where he recorded 20 goals and 27 assists. He also played in one game with the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate.
Barbashev, a 22-year-old from Moscow, is the younger brother of Vegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev. The elder Barbashev is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the 2019 St. Louis Blues and the 2023 Golden Knights. He played for a third last season.
The younger Barbashev, meanwhile, split 2025-26 between the Allen Americans and the Grizzlies. The 6-foot-1, 188-pound winger finished with nine goals and 12 assists in 50 ECHL games. He also appeared in three games with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners where Goatheads coach Zack Stortini was an assistant.
Barbashev spent 2024-25 with the ECHL’s Bloomington Bison (36 games, 3 goals, 5 assists) and the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack (6 games, 1 goal, 1 assist).
He was originally taken in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL draft by the New York Rangers.
David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at [email protected] or via X @DavidGlovach.
More New Mexico Goatheads reading
*
Goatheads procure international flair for roster
Forward Artem Pugachev, defenseman Derek Daschke both have experience outside US
*
Goatheads continue to get defensive
1st-year ECHL franchise adds blueliners Emmett Serensits and Brandon Chabrier
*
Goatheads add another forward to roster
Lynden Breen is the 3rd player signed by the 1st-year ECHL franchise
*
Goatheads focus on defense with 2nd signing
Trevor Zins joins Avalanche's ECHL affiliate for inaugural season
*
Goatheads bring former ECHL standout on staff
3-time Kelly Cup winner Matt Register joins Avalanche's minor-league affiliate
*
Goatheads sign 1st player to inaugural roster
Avalanche's minor-league affiliate brings on forward Grant Ahcan for the 2026-27 season
*
Goatheads new head coach brings strong roots to role
Zack Stortini's former coaches, Mike Vellucci and Ryan Warsofsky, helped set the path to his own top job
*
New Mexico Goatheads announce home opener date
The ECHL expansion team will bring professional hockey back to New Mexico for the first time in nearly 20 years
Continue reading...
