El Paso Herald-Post El Paso News & Opinion
El Paso Rhinos Close out Regular Season with St. Baldrick’s Series vs Wichita
The El Paso Rhinos face the Wichita Junior Thunder in a three-game series ahead of their return to the Western States Hockey League playoffs.
The Rhinos lead the Mid-Western Division with a 37-8-3 record, while the Thunder (13-32-2) are in last place in the same division. El Paso has already secured home ice for the first round of the playoffs, which get underway March 22.
The final regular-season series is always a special one for the Rhinos, who will host their annual St. Baldrick’s event. After Saturday’s game, the Rhinos players, coaching and training staff, youth hockey players and the UTEP Miners hockey team will shave their heads to support the battle against childhood cancer.
All proceeds benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a non-profit organization which raises funds to help find cures for children with cancer. Also, on Saturday, the Rhinos will recognize area childhood cancer survivors and those battling cancer, while Herndon’s Gift Shop will sponsor a cowbell giveaway.
The games are set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at the Coliseum Events Center located at 4100 East Paisano.
Tickets start at $5 and are available at the Coliseum Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000, online and at the Coliseum Events Center Ticket Booth, which opens one hour before game time.
El Paso Rhinos look to Close out Regular Season vs Wichita; Prepare for Playoffs
After a weekend series that had the El Paso Rhinos collect a 2-1 series win versus Oklahoma City, improving their overall record to 34-8 on the season and securing home ice for the first round of the playoffs.
The Rhinos currently sit atop the Mid-Western Division and are the first seed going into their final home regular season series
For the final home series versus Wichita Thunder next weekend – March 8, 9, and 10 – the series will feature the annual St. Baldrick’s head shaving event where the players and the staff shave their heads to raise funds for childhood cancer research.
Each of the three games will also include our Jerseys Off Our Backs promotion, Hot Diggity Dog, Miller Lite Scorer of the Game, and as always, our Post-Game Skate with the Team.
The Rhinos look to push a three-game series win into the playoffs beginning March 22. For more information, visit the Rhino’s website.
Rhinos Avoid Sweep in OKC, Return Home to Play Dallas this Weekend
This past weekend, the Rhinos traveled to Oklahoma City to play their rivals, the Blazers. Going into the series, the Rhinos sat atop the Midwest Division while the Blazers were in second place.
On Friday, Sam Robinson, with the help of Oscar Andersson and Dominik Sedlacek, put the Rhinos on the board less than four minutes into the fist period. Eight minutes later, Blazer defenseman Michael Jensen evened the game at one.
Although the second period saw no goals, eight penalties, for a total of 17 penalty minutes, were handed out during the period. With only five minutes remaining in regulation, OKC forward Henrik Overvall, slid the puck past Rhino netminder Nils Velm to give the Blazers the win.
Game two started out differently as the Harri Koll was the first to score for the Blazers. After a scoreless second period, Koll scored his second of the game only fourteen seconds into the third period. With just over five minutes remaining in regulation, Rhino forward Jonas Burman put the Rhinos within one of the Blazers.
Moments later, however, an empty net goal by Vitalii Mikhailov gave the Blazers the 3-1 game two win.
Neither team scored in the first period of Sunday’s game, but like Saturday, the Blazers were the first to put a tally on the scoresheet with a goal by Dominic Loubert. Just over a minute later, Rhino forward Sam Sykes tied the game at one. OKC’s Loubert (2) and El Paso’s Ty Erramouspe both posted goals to end the second period knotted at two.
Martin Dubsky gave the Rhinos only their second lead of the series when he scored just before the halfway mark of the third period. With four minutes left in regulation, Erramouspe sealed the deal and gave the Rhinos a 4-2 win to avoid being swept by the Blazers.
After the two losses in Oklahoma, the Rhinos now sit in second place behind the Blazers who lead the Midwest Division.
This weekend, however, the Rhinos hope to add three wins to their record when the play the Dallas Snipers on home ice for Military Appreciation Weekend. Active duty, veterans, and retired military and their dependents receive free admission for this series and every home series.
Throughout the weekend, the Rhinos will recognize Military personnel and wear military-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off following Saturday’s game.
For more information, visit the Rhino’s website or Facebook page.
El Paso Rhinos Return Home to Face Utah Outliers at Coliseum Events Center
The El Paso Rhinos are looking to get back on the winning track this weekend, as they take on the Utah Outliers in a Western States Hockey League three-game series.
The Rhinos will wear special “Día de los Muertos”-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off after Saturday’s game at at the El Paso County Coliseum Events Center.
El Paso is 6-3, and looking to snap their losing streak, having dropped a three-game series this past weekend to the competitive Long Beach Bombers, who lead the Western Division.
The 10-5 Outliers, who are in second place in the Mountain Division, are coming off a strong weekend, winning three games and sweeping the Cheyenne Stampede.
The games are set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, November 9-10, and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, November 11.
Tickets are $5 for general admission, $7 for Black Section, $10 for Grey Section, $15 for Orange Section, $25 for Glass Section, $30 for Balcony and free for military with ID.
Tickets are available at the El Paso County Coliseum Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000, online. and at the Coliseum Events Center Ticket Booth, which opens one hour before game time.
Rhinos Return for First Home Series of 2018-19 Season This Weekend
The reigning Thorne Cup champions and currently undefeated El Paso Rhinos will open their home ice season this weekend.
The Rhinos will be hosting the Wichita Thunder in a Western States Hockey League three-game series at the El Paso County Coliseum Events Center (4100 East Paisano.)
Starting the season 3-0, the Rhinos swept the Dallas Snipers in Dallas earlier this month. Wichita, meanwhile, is still seeking its first win of the season after losing its opening series against the Steamboat Wranglers.
El Paso players will be wearing special baseball jerseys that will be auctioned off following Saturday’s game.
Tickets are $5 for general admission, $7 for Black Section, $10 for Grey Section, $15 for Orange Section, $25 for Glass Section, $30 for Balcony and free for military with ID.
Tickets are available at the El Paso County Coliseum Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000, online and at the Coliseum Events Center Ticket Booth, which opens one hour before game time.
The games are set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 26-27, and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, October 28.
El Paso Rhinos Roll Out First Ever ‘Black and Orange Game’ in September
While we may be in the throes of August and all the summer heat, your El Paso Rhinos are looking to get on the ice early this year.
The defending Thorne Cup champs will take the ice in the Sun City in September for the first-ever Black and Orange Game. Team officials announced the game Friday, adding that admission to the inter-squad match will be free.
On Saturday, September 29 at 7 pm, the Rhinos will play an inter-squad game where half the team, clad in black home jerseys, will face off against the other half who will be suited up in white away jerseys.
Not only will fans see the Rhinos take the ice for the first time, Season Ticket Holders can pick up their season tickets before the game and all fans can skate with the Rhinos following the match up. Fans can also take advantage of all the usual promotions like Jerseys Off Our Backs, Hot Diggity Dog, Miller Lite Scorer of the Game and more.
The puck will drop at 7 pm and tickets can be picked up on game day when the box office opens at 5:30 pm.
For questions or more information, call 915-479-PUCK (7825) or visit elpasorhinos.com.
Video+Gallery: Rhinos Rally to Beat Utah 4-3; Earn Semi-Final Spot Saturday
In a do-or-die Friday night game on their home ice, the Rhinos rallied to beat the Utah Outliers 4-3, to move on in the Thorne Cup Championship.
The Rhinos now take on Idaho Saturday night at 7pm.
Duke Keith brings you the highlights and post-game interviews.
Video+Story in Many Pics: OKC Blazers Best Rhinos 4-3
Round two of the Thorne Cup Finals for the El Paso Rhinos featured a familiar foe: the Oklahoma City Blazers Thursday night.
While the Rhinos may have had their way with the Blazers – and most of the WSHL teams – all season, the OKC team was out for blood, taking the game 4-3. The Rhinos are back in action Friday night at 7p vs the Utah Outliers.
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Story in Many Pics: Thorne Cup – Long Beach Bests Rhinos 4-1
The Thorne Cup-hosting El Paso Rhinos played to a full house Wednesday night, as they took on the Long Beach Bombers in the cup nightcap.
The Bombers dropped one in early, but the Rhinos came right back and tied it up; however they weren’t able to keep pace with the Californian’s goals, dropping the first game 4 to 1
Our very own Andres Acosta was there and brings you his views of the game in this ‘Story in Many Pics’ (Video courtesy of Duke Keith & Black Dog Hockey)
El Paso Rhinos Prep For OKC in WSHL Midwest Division Finals
With dominating wins over the Dallas Snipers last weekend, the El Paso Rhinos will face off against the Oklahoma City Blazers in the Midwest Division Finals this Friday, Saturday and Sunday – if needed.
The Rhinos are riding a 19-game win streak after sweeping the Dallas Snipers in the Midwest Division Semi-Finals. Netminders Filip Krasanovsky and Kayden Pickles both earned shutouts this past weekend, while the Rhino offense posted 21 answered goals in two games.
Currently ranked second in the Division after the Rhinos, the Blazers clenched their Division Finals berth by beating the Springfield Express in game three last weekend.
OKC comes into the series as one of only two teams to earn a win over the Rhinos this season. In January, the Rhinos dropped their first game of the series, 5-4, in overtime. El Paso, however, earned the series win by winning the final two games of the series.
Now the Blazers look to guarantee their spot in the Thorne Cup tournament with a series win in Rhino Country. Should the Rhinos win the series, they will earn their ninth Division Title.
After this series, the team will prepare for the Thorne Cup. El Paso’s Round-Robin games are set for Wednesday, April 11, Thursday, April 12, and Friday, April 13, at 7 pm. The Semi-Finals will be held on April 14 and the championship game will be played on April 15 at 4:30 pm.
Tickets for Division Finals and the Thorne Cup can be purchased through Ticketmaster. The puck will drop at 7 pm on Friday and Saturday and at 4:30 pm on Sunday at the El Paso County Coliseum Events Center (4100 East Paisano).
Tickets start at $5 and can be purchased online or by calling the El Paso County Coliseum Box Office at 915-533- 9899.
Story in Many Pics: El Paso Rhinos Dominate Dallas 10-0
With two dominating wins over the Dallas Snipers – 11 to 0 and 10 to 0 – the red-hot El Paso Rhinos punched their ticket to the WSHL Midwest Division Finals.
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Red-Hot Rhinos Ready for Playoffs vs Dallas; Thorne Cup Championship Series
After rampaging through the regular season, the El Paso Rhinos are rested and ready for the first round of the WSHL Playoffs this weekend against the Dallas Snipers.
The home playoff games against Dallas are set for March 23-25, with the second round scheduled for March 30-April 1. All playoff series are best two of three series, so Sunday games will only be played if necessary.
The Rhinos finished the regular season with a record of 49-1-1, the Western States Hockey League’s best regular-season record to date. For the Midwest Division Semi-Finals, the Rhinos will take on the Dallas Snipers, who are currently ranked fourth in the division. El Paso played Dallas three times during the regular season, sweeping them each time.
Every game has been won decisively and the team has scored over 80 goals on their fellow Texas team. Rhino netminders have also combined for five shutouts in nine games against the Snipers.
If the Rhinos win the match-up, they will advance to the Midwest Division Finals where they will take on the winner of the Springfield-Oklahoma City series.
Friday and Saturday games will start at 7 pm and Sunday games, if necessary, will start at 4:30 pm. Single game playoff tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster.
On Saturday, the Rhinos will auction off their game-worn black jerseys after the game. Additionally, through the Jerseys Off Our Backs promotion, every fan will have the chance to win a game-worn jersey which will be given to the winner during the third period.
Western Tech and Metro PCS will also present intermission contests and offer great prizes during the Friday and Saturday games.
The Rhinos will host also host the 2018 Thorne Cup Championship between April 11 and April 15, with five teams from around the country traveling to the Sun City for the Western States Hockey League’s annual tournament.
Round robin play will begin on April 11 and continue through April 13. The semi-finals will be played on Saturday, April 14, and the tournament will conclude with the championship game on Sunday, April 15.
As the host team, the Rhinos are guaranteed three games that will be played on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7 pm. Tickets are on sale now here.
Thorne Cup tickets will be available for pick up on April 8 at the Rhino Fan Party from 12 to 2 pm at the rink.
Red Hot Rhinos Ready for St. Baldrick’s Series vs Dallas
Last weekend, the red-hot Rhinos scored 45 goals in a sweep of the Thunder, this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday they’re back in the Sun City for the St. Baldrick’s series.
After Saturday’s game, the team, including the coaching and training staff, stick boys, and other Rhino members, will shave their heads for the eighth straight year to raise money for childhood cancer research.
Fans will be able to bid on their favorite Rhino’s head to take the first swipe. All bids to take the first swipe for the head shaving will be done during the El Paso Rhinos home game Saturday, February 24 at 7:00 pm.
Bidding will conclude at the 10-minute mark of the third period and shaving will take place immediately following the game. Anyone that can’t make the game but wanting to bid can do so via email (therman@elpasorhinos.com).
Email submissions must be submitted by February 23 at 11 pm (MT). You can also help your favorite Rhino raise money by donating online.
Rhinos Return Home to Battle Dallas after Sweeping Thunder
Over the weekend, the El Paso Rhinos traveled to Wichita for their final regular-season road trip, and once again came away with a series sweep.
On Friday, Kayden Pickles stopped all nine shots he faced and earned his second shutout of the season. Max Kamper, Nikita Pintusov, Austin Simpson and Adam Stalzer each had a pair of goals and contributed to the 16-0 win over the Thunder.
Filip Krasanovsky started in net for the Rhinos on Saturday and quickly gave up one goal just under four minutes into the first period. However, with two shorthanded goals, Chaseton Sare’s five-point game and Austin Simpson’s four goals, El Paso ended the second game with a final score of 18-1.
Sunday’s 11-2 win saw two more power play goals, one shorthanded goal, hat tricks by Simpson and Pintusov and a pair of goals by Kranabetter.
El Paso’s sweep of the Thunder extends their win streak to 11 games and gives them a record of 43-1-1 on the season.
The Rhinos will host two more regular season home series on February 23-25 and March 2-4. On February 24, as part of the St. Baldrick’s series, the entire team will shave their heads to raise money for childhood cancer research.
The following Sunday, March 4, the Rhinos will host their Paint the Ice promotion as the final event in the Kids Series. Home playoff games are tentatively set for March 23-25 and March 30-April 1.
All playoff series are best two of three series, so Sunday games will only be played if necessary. Information on playoff tickets can be found here.
