The El Paso Rhinos earned their first three-game sweep of the season, outscoring the New Mexico Renegades in Rio Rancho by a combined score of 20-5 and roaring into a familiar spot — first place in the Western States Hockey League’s Mid-West Division.
El Paso started the weekend with a 9-2 win as Frankie Posilico, Tyler Beasley and Tyler Benson each scored twice. The Rhinos fired 75 shots on goal in the Friday opener.
Saturday, El Paso got another brace of goals from Tyler Beasley, as well as from one of the newest Rhinos, Todd Thomas, in a 6-2 romp.
Returning defenseman Kyle Shapiro scored twice in Sunday’s nightcap and goalie Keenan Wallace allowed just one goal among 31 Renegades’ shots.
Sunday’s win lifts El Paso past the idle Tulsa Rampage and Texas Brahmas into the top spot in the Mid-West.
The Rampage and Brahmas square off for a three-game series next weekend in Tulsa while the Rhinos are idle, but head coach Cory Herman is encouraged with the showing.
“For us, it’s never really about what the other team is doing, it’s about what we’re doing,” says Herman. “With so many new players it took awhile for everybody to get on the same page, but we’re playing more physical and running our systems the way we’re supposed to.”
El Paso returns home for a three-game series against New Mexico beginning Friday, Nov. 19.
