Goatheads Bolster Roster With Trade For Forward Helgeson And Signing Of Valerian
New Mexico adds a 25-year-old forward from Cincinnati and a 31-year-old defenseman from the Ohio native's SPHL and ECHL stints.
By Alina Marshall ·
The New Mexico Goatheads executed a two-player roster overhaul this week, trading for forward Max Helgeson and signing defenseman C.J. Valerian. The moves represent the team's most substantial personnel changes since the start of their inaugural season.
On Saturday, the organization confirmed the acquisition of Helgeson from the Cincinnati Cyclones. The trade sent forward Luka Burzan back to Cincinnati in exchange for Helgeson. Burzan, 25, had been with the Goatheads for seven games, during which he recorded one goal and one assist. The team originally acquired him from the South Carolina Stingrays on Oct. 14 for cash considerations.
Helgeson brings professional experience from his debut season with the Cyclones, where he logged four assists in 15 games. The 6-foot, 1-inch forward from Anchorage, Alaska, spent three seasons at the University of Alaska Anchorage, recording 68 points in 95 games. He finished his collegiate career at Miami University in Ohio, where he produced 20 points in 36 games during the 2025-26 season.
On Monday, the Goatheads announced the signing of Valerian, a 31-year-old defenseman with extensive minor league experience. Valerian has appeared in 41 career ECHL games for the Tahoe Knight Monsters, Reading Royals, and Bloomington Bison, recording six assists. He also played in the SPHL, where he accumulated 236 penalty minutes over 135 regular-season games with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs.
Valerian’s profile emphasizes physical play. Last season, he drew 75 penalty minutes in 27 games with Roanoke and 51 penalty minutes in 21 games with the Knight Monsters. He was a member of the Roanoke team that won the 2023 President's Cup. The organization indicated that his physicality addresses a specific need in the team's current lineup.
The Goatheads will face their first opportunity to secure a home victory this weekend. They host the Allen Americans, who hold a 4-2 record, for a three-game series at the Rio Rancho Events Center on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
