Luke Dotto scored a Texas hat trick — the third in as many nights for El Paso — and goalie Terry Hughes stopped all 15 Wichita shots on goal, as the Rhinos ripped the Junior Thunder in final game of a three-game series, 15-0, Saturday night.
The 44 goals is the most the Rhinos have ever scored in a three-game series.
Team captain Mike Rivera, Chad Cesarz and defenseman Chris Wilhite each contributed two goals as El Paso ran its record to 14-3-1, pacing the Mountain Conference with 29 points, eight ahead of the Cheyenne Stampede.
Gunner Bjorklund, David Nelson, Trent Edwards, Aaron Rasmussen and John Ludwig also scored in the win.
Special teams were once again spectacular for the Rhinos, as the hosts went 4-for-5 on the power play while smothering Wichita on the penalty kill even though the Junior Thunder had 11 opportunities.
A night after scoring an unprecedented six short-handed goals, El Paso had another four Saturday and now have 26 on the season. No other team in the Western States Hockey League has more than six.
The Rhinos will have a three-week hiatus before returning against the Tulsa Junior Oilers, Dec. 14-16. For tickets and information, contact the front office at 915.479.PUCK (7825), or go to www.elpasorhinos.com.
Click the following link for the officials stats from Saturday\’s game: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=2031448
