ECHL: New Mexico Hires Matt Register as Assistant Coach

The New Mexico Goatheads announced that they’ve hired three-time Kelly Cup Champion Matt Register as their Assistant Coach. Register started the 2025-26 season with the Allen Americans before becoming an assistant coach later that season.

Register, 36, begins his coaching career in New Mexico following one of the most accomplished playing careers by an ECHL defenseman. The defenseman won the Kelly Cup with the Allen Americans in 2016 before capturing consecutive championships with the Colorado Eagles in 2017 and 2018.

The Calgary, Alberta, native won ECHL Defenseman of the Year three times and earned six ECHL All-Star honors overall. Register made ECHL history by becoming the first defenseman to earn the June M. Kelly Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award after helping Colorado to their first ECHL Championship during the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Throughout his ECHL career, Register appeared in 687 regular season games, recording 118 goals and 432 assists for 550 points. He ranks among the ECHL’s all-time defensemen in games played, goals, assists, and points. The defenseman has played in 156 Kelly Cup Playoff games, recording 29 goals and 89 assists for 118 points. During his ECHL career, he played with the Ontario Reign, Atlanta Gladiators, Allen Americans, Colorado Eagles, Toledo Walleye, and Idaho Steelheads.

In addition to his time in the ECHL, Register appeared in 43 AHL games, recording one goal and seven assists. Throughout his time in the AHL, he played with the Chicago Wolves, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Iowa Wild.