The Rhinos snagged their first win of 2017 in the face up against the Dallas Snipers in the first game of the series on Friday night.
As the first half of the season concluded back in December, the Rhinos left Vegas with an overtime loss to the Caspar Coyotes. Coming into the first game of the new year, the Rhinos tallied 24 wins in 31 games. Friday’s series was the opening night to the holiday hiatus the Rhinos took for quality family time.
El Paso took to the ice hungry for Dallas in the first period of the game. Jc Dubecky slid through for the first goal of the night; Chaseton Sare and Tanner Mckechnie were on the assist. A little over 11 minutes later, Alex Johanson netted a power play goal, with Ty Erramouspe and Simon Hobbis on the assist.
The second period began aggressively with a minor cross-checking penalty from Riley Hummitsch. Dallas answered back, finally ending their goalless streak, thanks to Alexsejs Ivansenko’s power play goal. With a little over 14 minutes left in the second period, the score stood at 2-1, Rhino lead. Johanson, however, added to the Rhinos’ score, allowing the Rhinos to end the second period with a two goal lead.
There were back-to-back scoring drives when Chaseton Sare and Juraj Lednicky earned two more for the Rhinos well into the third period. Sare struck another goal for a 6-1 gain over Dallas. The Snipers attempted to stay alive toward the end of the game but failed as David Chachalak managed to seal the deal for the Rhino win, 7-1.
-Yazmen McCaskill