Friday: Colorado Grit 2 @ El Paso Rhinos 3 – Rhinos host the Grit this weekend as we begin the first of a three-game series! We’ve got an uneventful first period today as Michael Manzi keeps the Grit to 0. The first goals of the night wouldn’t even be seen until the second period where Medrick Bolduc and Tristan Zarsky take back-to-back goals. Rhinos take a 2-0 lead at the end of the second. Moving in to the third period Colorado’s Will Hadrick puts them on the board with their first goal of the night. Just before the halfway point in the period, the Grit tie it up at 2-2 with one more goal from Grolnic. This stalemate was not to last as Rhinos steal the lead back as Ryan Gingher scores the game winning goal. Game 1 is set with a 3-2 Rhino victory.
Saturday: Colorado Grit 3 @ El Paso Rhinos 5 – Back at it again for Game 2, Rhinos & Grit fight it out once more! Mason LeBel starts the Rhinos off tonight at just over five minutes into the game, but the Grit bring back the score just a few minutes later to tie it up at 1-1 at the end of the first. Bryan Fryfogle earns another goal for Colorado, starting off a back and forth scoring match between both teams. Bradley Walker brings it back for the Rhinos, just before Fryfogle once again steals the lead for the Grit. With one last goal from Kyle Arias the game is tied at 3-3 headed in to the third. Tory Lund and Bradley Walker took it upon themselves to score two goals this period to hand their team their second victory of the series at 5-3.
Sunday: Colorado Grit 2 @ El Paso Rhinos 5 – With one more game to go Rhinos & Grit take to the ice for Game #3! Colorado takes the initiative this game hoping to prevent a Rhinos sweep with a goal at the 1:34 mark, taking the early game by storm. Will Hadrick makes it 2-0 for the Grit with their second goal of the night. Colorado’s defense held firm in the first period, preventing any Rhinos scoring, but El Paso isn’t out of the fight yet. Mason LeBel and Frank Tafelski tie up the game at 2-2 with ease before the ten minute mark. From here on out it was all Rhinos for the rest of the period as Ritter Coombs & Alexandre Pellerin double their score, making it a 4-2 lead headed in to the third for the Rhinos. With Tory Lund sinking the puck in the net one last time the Rhinos take Game #3 with a 5-2 victory, sweeping Colorado under the rug in the process.
