Goatheads add forward, defenseman

Rio Rancho. The New Mexico Goatheads made two roster moves this week as they prepare for their first home series. The team acquired a forward from Cincinnati and signed a defenseman from Ohio.

On Saturday, the Goatheads announced a trade with the Cincinnati Cyclones. The team sent forward Luka Burzan to Cincinnati and received forward Max Helgeson in return. Burzan had played seven games for New Mexico since joining the team from the South Carolina Stingrays on Oct. 14. He recorded two points during that stretch, which included one goal and one assist.

Helgeson is 25 years old and stands 6 feet 1 inch tall. He made his professional debut with the Cyclones last season, posting four assists in 15 games. Before turning pro, he played three seasons at the University of Alaska Anchorage and finished his collegiate career at Miami University in Ohio. In his final college season, he recorded 20 points in 36 games for the Redhawks. His time with the Seawolves included 68 points in 95 games.

On Monday, the team announced the signing of defenseman C.J. Valerian. Valerian is 31 years old and stands 6 feet 2 inches tall. He has played in 41 ECHL games across three teams: the Tahoe Knight Monsters, Reading Royals, and Bloomington Bison. During those 41 games, he recorded six assists. He also has extensive experience in the SPHL, where he has played 135 regular-season games for the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs.

Valerian brings physical play to the roster. Last season, he accumulated 75 penalty minutes in 27 SPHL games with Roanoke and 51 penalty minutes in 21 ECHL games with the Knight Monsters. His career total with Roanoke in the SPHL regular season is 236 penalty minutes. He was part of the Roanoke team that won the 2023 President's Cup.

The Goatheads will host the Allen Americans at the Rio Rancho Events Center this weekend. The Americans hold a 4-2 record. The three-game series is scheduled for Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The team is seeking its first home victory of the season.