Goatheads continue to get defensive

Nairavoice | Jul 25, 2026 1h ago 129 0 3 min read

The New Mexico Goatheads are continuing to build up their defensive presence.

The first-year ECHL franchise — and minor-league affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche — announced the signing of defenseman Emmett Serensits on Tuesday and fellow blueliner Brandon Chabrier on Friday for the 2026-27 season, which begins Oct. 16 at the Rio Rancho Events Center.

Serensits and Chabrier are the fourth and fifth players, respectively, the Goatheads have brought on. New Mexico previously announced the additions of forwards Grant Ahcan and Lynden Breen, as well as defenseman Trevor Zins.

This will be the second ECHL stop for the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Serensits.

The 26-year-old Ontario native spent the previous season-plus with the Trois-Rivières Lions in Quebec. He appeared in 10 regular-season games at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, winning the Kelly Cup, and played in 46 games last season. Overall, he’s recorded five points — one goal and four assists.

Serensits does have some history with Goatheads coach Zack Storini. The defenseman played three seasons with the Sudbury Wolves — a junior team in the Ontario Hockey League — before joining the University of Toronto. Storini was an assistant with the Wolves in ’19-’20.

During his four seasons at Toronto, Serensits scored nine goals, recorded 40 assists and logged 112 games.

Chabrier, meanwhile, will be entering his first full professional season. Listed at 6 feet and 185 pounds, he appeared in four games with the ECHL’s Maine Mariners last season.

The 24-year-old from Bayville, New York, played his college hockey at Maine, where he spent three of those seasons — ’22-’25 — with Breen. Chabrier finished his Black Bears career with seven goals and 42 assists in 134 games.

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.