(EL PASO, TX) – David Fegler scored the hat trick and the El Paso Rhinos downed the persistent Boulder Bison, 5-2, at the Sierra Providence Events Center Sunday night.
Coming off a hard-to-swallow 5-4 loss to Boulder Saturday night, the Rhinos responded well as Fegler scored the opening goal at 11:47 of the first period. Finding himself alone with Bison goaltender Mathieu Laberge, Fegler showed great patience waiting for Laberge to drop to the ice before sliding in the backhand.
Defenseman Mike Bottcher made it 2-0 Rhinos going into the first intermission, scoring his second goal of the season at 17:47.
Fegler made it 3-0 to the home team at 9:58 of the second before Boulder was able to get one back.
A.J. Tesoriero continued the Bison’s power play dominance in the series, roofing a point-blank shot over Rhinos goalie Matt Dizgun at 17:51. But Rhinos forward Austin Balko took a tape-to-tape pass from Nick Gualano and powered a wrist shot past Laberge at 4:00 of the third period.
Jeremy Rolfe drew the visitors close again at 11:36 of the third period, but Fegler pounced on a rebound with 20 seconds left to wrap the scoring.
El Paso improves to 13-2-0 and leads the Mid-West Division with 26 points, but Boulder, playing their first season in the Western States Hockey League, showed the going won’t be quite as easy for the three-time defending division champs. The Bison are in second place, tied with the Tulsa Rampage at 16 points.
The Rhinos will split a series with the New Mexico Renegades next weekend, playing in El Paso Friday, Oct. 30, then playing in Albuquerque, NM, Saturday and Sunday. For tickets and information, contact the Rhinos front office at 915.479.PUCK (7825) or go to www.elpasorhinos.com.
