(EL PASO, TX) — Amarillo native Kendal Craig scored twice and the El Paso Rhinos beat the New Mexico Renegades, 8-2, to finish a two-game exhibition series Saturday night in the Events Center.
Denis Babin started the scoring for the Renegades, lifting a shot from the blue line past a screened Ryan Buttazzoni 8:39 into the game.
But El Paso answered minutes later with a pair of power play goal from defenseman Jack Strusz at 11:22 and Halen Sampson at 14:13.
Craig notched his first goal with a beautiful short-handed break at 19:22. Skating in on Brendan Hanson, Craig lifted his shot over the goalie’s shoulder from 10 feet away.
Finishing out a penalty to start the second period, Rhinos’ defenseman Chris Wilhite came out of the penalty box, promptly took a feed from Strusz and dished to a wide open Chad Cesarz to make it 4-1 just 12 seconds into the frame.
The Renegades\’ Ryan Meyer scored a fluke short-handed goal to make it 4-2 at 7:02, as his dump-in from the New Mexico blue line bounced, was mishandled by Buttazzoni and went in.
Buttazzoni was pulled for Isaak Tjaden immediately.
Jeremy Rezaeepour scored a hard-work goal in close at 12:36, followed by Craig’s second, a tip-in from Brandon Edson’s shot from the right circle.
David Nelson at 9:55 and Edson at 14:43 rounded out the scoring in the third period.
The Rhinos return to action against at the Events Center against the Texas Brahmas in two weeks. For tickets and information, contact the front office at 915/479.PUCK (7825), or go to www.elpasorhinos.com.
