Brahmas & Rhinos duke it out for the first weekend of Hockey at the NYTEX Sports Centre
Friday: El Paso Rhinos 1 @ Lone Star Brahmas 4 – Rhinos are on the road this weekend for their first game of the season! The puck dropped Friday night to the start of a fierce fight as the Brahmas try and fend off the Rhino’s advances on their home ice. The battle was long fought but the Rhinos drew first blood as Tommy Shore takes the first goal of the season with just under three minutes to go. Headed in to the second period we’d see more of the same, but the Brahmas took the opportunity of the first intermission to change their strategy and start pushing back.
By the end of the period Nolan Davis takes a last-minute goal to tie up the game at 1-1. With one final period to go the Brahmas kick it in to high gear and push their advantage even further. Vincenzo Capano steals the lead for the Brahmas roughly halfway through the third for a 2-1 lead. As the period winds down Ryan Coots adds some insurance by increasing the gap by another point, followed just a few minutes later by Tyson Scanlon to solidify the victory for the Brahmas. Rhinos would fall 4-1 to the Brahmas, but this season is just starting!
Saturday: El Paso Rhinos 2 @ Lone Star Brahmas 4 – Game #2 is ON as the puck drops for the second time at the NYTEX Sports Centre! Rhinos push through the first period through the Brahmas’ defensive formation, wearing them down to score a single goal with just under 30 seconds to go. Rhinos are up 1-0 going in to the second period thanks to Kamden Kaiser, but the Brahmas were ready to fire back, taking two goals from Leo Isaksson and Samuel Lussier to steal the lead.
Ian Kastamo brings it back for El Paso though and we’d end the second period at a 2-2 stalemate. After one final intermission both teams came back to the ice ready for the final stretch. Unfortunately for the Rhinos, the Brahmas got their second wind to take two more goals late in the period. Aaron Vanwie took the first followed two minutes later by Van Martin to make a 4-2 lead for the Brahmas, firmly cementing their victory.
