NEW MEXICO GOATHEADS
Goatheads continue to build out inaugural roster
Colorado Avalanche's 1st-year ECHL affiliate now has 15 players
The busy 鈥 but necessary 鈥 offseason has continued for the New Mexico Goatheads.
After all, there is a roster to build ahead of the Oct. 16 opener at the Rio Rancho Events Center.
The first-year ECHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche added four players 鈥 defenseman Noah Barlage, forward Tyler Drevitch, defenseman Aaron Chiarot and forward German Yava葯 鈥 over the last two weeks to bring its total to 15.
, teams are allowed to have 21 players for the first 30 days of the season. That number then drops to 20. At least two must be goaltenders.
The Goatheads have six defensemen and nine forwards.
Barlage鈥檚 addition was announced Aug. 20. This season will mark the 23-year-old鈥檚 professional debut.
The Canadian spent the past . Barlage played in 31 games in 2025-26 and recorded four assists, up from the 15 games and two assists he had in 2024-25. The 6-foot, 180-pounder logged six penalty minutes between the two seasons.
Drevitch鈥檚 signing was announced Aug. 25. The 31-year-old will be among the more experienced ECHLers on the Goatheads鈥 roster.
鈥 between the Wheeling Nailers, Wichita Thunder, Maine Mariners, Atlanta Gladiators and Orlando Solar Bears 鈥 the Massachusetts native has played in 297 regular-season ECHL games. That would qualify him as one of the four veteran players allowed on a team鈥檚 roster.
Listed at 6 feet and 183 pounds, Drevitch has 43 goals, 47 assists and 596 penalty minutes during his ECHL tenure. He tallied double-digit goals and assists twice (2022-23 and 鈥23-鈥24). He finished with three goals and six assists in 47 games for the Solar Bears last season.
Chiarot was added on Aug. 27. This will be the 24-year-old鈥檚 second professional season.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Canadian is the younger brother of longtime NHL defenseman , who currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings. The elder Chiarot will be entering his 14th season in the league. He鈥檚 recorded 50 goals and 135 assists in 805 NHL games between the Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadians, Florida Panthers and Red Wings.
The younger Chiarot appeared in 22 games between the Rapid City Rush, South Carolina Stingrays and Cincinnati Cyclones . He finished with one assist and 41 penalty minutes.
Yava葯, a 23-year-old from Belarus, was signed Sept. 1. This will be his .
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Yava葯 split last between the Norfolk Admirals and Tulsa Oilers, where he appeared in a combined 46 games, scored one and assisted on three other goals. He finished with 65 penalty minutes.
Yava葯 played in 45 games for the Admirals in 2024-25. He had six goals and nine assists to go along with 68 penalty minutes.
David Glovach covers New Mexico 近距离内射合集 and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X .
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