(EL PASO, TX) — Chad Cesarz notched a Texas hat trick, scoring four goals, while goaltender Ryan Buttazzoni stopped all 10 shots he faced as the El Paso Rhinos completed a first-ever series shutout in sweeping the Tulsa Junior Oilers, 13-0, Saturday night.
El Paso outscored the visitors, 38-0, on the weekend after winning 11-0 and 14-0 in the first two games of the series. The Rhinos had more goals (38) than the Junior Oilers had shots on goal (34) this weekend.
El Paso improves to 18-0-0-0 and remain the Western States Hockey League\’s only undefeated team. The Rhinos\’ 36 points pace the Midwest Division by 15 points over the second place Texas Brahmas.
The hosts also scored two more short-handed goals, their league-leading 16th and 17th of the season from Cesarz and David Nelson, respectively.
Nelson\’s short-handed goal, his second of the night, was scored while Tulsa had a two-man advantage.
Nick Plesa also scored twice, and Jack Strusz, Lucas Dickison, Peter Plesa, Roman Konecny and Tom Bartel all tallied for the hosts.
The Rhinos will head to Las Vegas, NV, for the WSHL Showcase next week to face off with the leading teams in each of the league\’s three other divisions.
El Paso will play the two-time defending Thorne Cup champion Idaho Junior Steelheads of the Northwest Division, the Phoenix Knights from the Mountain Division and the Fresno Monsters who lead the Pacific Division, along with the Ogden Mustangs in the Showcase, an event designed to bring all the league\’s teams together for college scouts.
The Rhinos return home the last weekend of January. For tickets and information, contact the El Paso front office at 915/479.PUCK (7825), or go to www.elpasorhinos.com.
