Goatheads agree to terms with Daschke

RIO RANCHO, N.M. - The New Mexico Goatheads, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche and American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles, announced that the team has signed defenseman Derek Daschke to a contract for the 2026-27 season.

Daschke joins New Mexico after splitting the 2025-26 season after suiting up for three teams last season. He had one assist in 13 games with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, eight points (5g-3a) in nine games with the Kalamazoo Wings and three points (2g-1a) in 10 games with Lukko of Liiga, Finland's top professional league.

Daschke has established himself as one of the ECHL’s most productive defensemen over the past several seasons. In 2024-25 with the Utah Grizzlies, he recorded professional career highs with 17 goals, 39 assists and 56 points in 65 games, earning All-ECHL First Team honors. Over his two full ECHL seasons from 2023-25, he combined for 94 points (33g-61a) in 137 games.

Prior to turning professional, Daschke played five collegiate seasons, spending four years at Miami University before completing his collegiate career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Daschke served as an alternate captain at Miami in 2020-21 before being named team captain in 2021-22. He also captained the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League during the 2017-18 season.