As the El Paso Rhinos open the 2015-2016 season, they will travel to Valencia, California to take on the Flyers. Head Coach Cory Herman and staff will be looking to begin yet another challenging journey to bring El Paso another championship.

Although this will be one of the tougher matchups on the slate, the Rhinos’ roster definitely possesses the talent and guidance needed to beat a yearly contender like the Flyers. Luckily for the Rhinos, multiple players such as Brennan Johnsson, Jonah Pearson, Koler Kanistanaux, Ryan Buttazzoni, Mack Hollis, and Angel Sanca are all returners from last year’s squad. The coaching staff also did an excellent job of recruiting various talented players such as Petr Ceslik, from the Czech Republic, and Joe Roach from Wisconsin as well as a few others.

The Valencia Flyers are no slouch this year either. Their season has already started and so far Head Coach Josh Berge has managed to get his squad off to a sizzling 8-1 start. The Flyers just came off a series sweep against the Phoenix Knights and will be hungry to defeat the Rhinos, playing them twice in one weekend. There’s little doubt that the Flyers will be prepared on Thursday, so the Rhinos must be prepared to come out with a little motivation if they want to win this series.

A few players to watch on both teams include El Paso Rhinos’ Forward Petr Ceslik and Flyers’ Forward Evan Johnson. Petr Ceslik is a first-year player for the Rhinos who dominated leagues in the Czech Republic, and also had experience with the Czech National hockey team. Ceslik is a goal-scoring machine who is sure to bring a unique dynamic to the Rhino’s offense. Evan Johnson also has a nose for the net, as he has already scored four goals this season. The chemistry he has with his teammates is going to bring a tough challenge for the Rhino’s defenseman.

Obviously, the key to winning this these two games against the Flyers will be the ability to find open lanes on offense and stay disciplined on defense. A little bit of rough and competitive play is something the Rhinos can excel at, and it may be an important game-piece if they want to start their season on the right foot with a win against the Flyers.

To keep up with the Rhinos this weekend and every weekend, download the Official Mobile App from the Apple App Store and Google Play stores. For more information, click here. 

-Caleb Colmenero