Friday: El Paso Rhinos 3 @ Corpus Christi IceRays 2 – Rhinos are on the road this week as we travel down to wonderful Corpus Christi to square off against the Ice Rays.
El Paso hits the scoreboard first as Tory Lund assisted by Frank Fafelski gives the Rhinos an early game goal. Corpus Christi is quick to adapt as their defense scrambles to keep up with Rhino momentum. As we head into the second period the IceRays push back with a goal by Pierson Sobush ties the game at just a little over five minutes. Corpus Christi pushes even further to take the lead just a few minutes later as Mathiu Bourgault snatches a second goal for the Rays.
Rounding out the period the Rhinos’ Camden Bajzer ties up the game once more at 2-2 before the period is out. As the teams returned to the ice for the final stretch of the game the IceRays’ frustration reached a boiling point. Not even one minute into the period and the Rays’ are hit with a fighting penalty. Even as the game heats up, the Rhinos keep their cool, allowing Medrick Bolduc to sink the final goal of the night. Rhinos take game #1 with a 3-2 lead over the IceRays.
Saturday: El Paso Rhinos 3 @ Corpus Christi IceRays 4 – Corpus Christi once again welcomes the El Paso Rhinos to the rink as they host the second of this two-game series.
Eager to take revenge after last night’s loss the IceRays’ Stepan Kuznetsov blitzes Rhino Defense to take the first and only goal of the period. WIth the IceRays holding on to a 1-0 lead they aim to keep the ball rolling as they score twice more in the first half of the second. Cody Kempf gives the Rays a goal at just a little over three minutes, followed by Tyler Samodral at just over eight.
With the pressure now on the Rhinos, Mason LeBel tries to swing the tide in their favor by scoring at the 10:47 mark. Frank Tafelski follows up a few minutes later with a goal of his own to cut the IceRays’ lead down to just a single point. Corpus Christi leads 3-2 moving onto the third period with the Rhinos closing in. Kuznetsov doesn’t give the Rhinos any breathing room and increases the Rays’ lead to 4-2 early in the period. This two point lead was not to last though as Ryan Gingher takes one for the Rhinos with just 33 seconds left on the clock. Corpus Christi defense held firm in the last leg of the game, giving them a 4-3 win and splitting the series with the Rhinos.
Next Game: Odessa Jackalopes @ El Paso Rhinos – Oct. 6th/7th
