Friday: Amarillo Wranglers 5 @ El Paso Rhinos 2 – Amarillo Wranglers pay a visit to Rhino Country this week for the start of a 2-game series. Starting us off tonight is the Wranglers’ Rihards Simanovics taking the first, and only goal of the first period to take the early game lead. Simanovics takes to the second period to double down on his points by taking a goal at 2:36 into the second period followed closely behind by Trey Williams to set the score at 3-0 just five minutes into the second period. Mark LaFrance breaks the Rhinos’ scoreless streak at just under the seven minute mark for the teams’ first goal of the night. Unfortunately for the Rhinos, the Wranglers took one more goal thanks to Connor McNaughton to close out the period 4-1. With one final period to go and the Rhinos at a 3 point deficit, we return to the ice to continue the fight. Jack McDonald increases the Wranglers’ lead up to 5-1 over the Rhinos. This lead stood firm until Frank Tafelski snuck in one last goal for the Rhinos in the last couple minutes of the game. Wranglers take game 1 over the Rhinos with a 5-2 victory.
Saturday: Amarillo Wranglers 4 @ El Paso Rhinos 2 – Headed to the ice for Game 2 of the series, Wranglers & Rhinos rough it up once more. Pierce Patterson starts us off tonight by taking one goal for the Wranglers. Rhinos defense keeps the game at 1-0 for the time being to send us into the second period. Four minutes into the second period AJ Reed puts the Rhinos on the board to tie the game at 1-1. We’d remain tied for most of the second until Ben Ivey edges out one more point for the Wranglers just before time runs out. After one final intermission Rhinos attempt to bring back the game in their favor as Ryan Gingher who brought the game to yet another tie for 2-2. Unfortunately for the Rhinos, the Wranglers would continue to score Twice More as Ben Ivey takes his second goal of the night and Ronan Walsh for one more in the last 15 seconds of the game. Wranglers walk away from the series with a sweep.
