Wrap Up01/09/2012 8:12 AM
A Lone Star Emerges from Texas Jan. 08, 2012 Grapevine, TX – If you could take the first three games of the year and make a statement, El Paso has made a definitive one: 2012 is the year of the Rhinos in Texas. This weekend couldn’t have gone any better for the orange and black as they walked away with three close victories against their closest rivals, the Dallas Ice Jets. The wins weren’t cheap given that all games were decided by one goal if you take away Saturday’s empty netter, and Sunday’s was decided by a shootout. This one had everything you would look for in a game: lots of scoring, hard hits, and plenty of special teams to open up the ice. The scoring got underway not even a minute into the contest as David Nelson got his first of two goals on the evening to give El Paso an early 1-0 lead. Dallas Szustak followed it up nearly sixteen minutes later before Dallas got on the board from a Jefferson Wright goal to go into the first intermission 2-1 in favor of the Rhinos. Once again, it didn’t take long for the scoreboard to light up after the puck was dropped in the second as Nicholas Sadow gave El Paso a two goal lead just over three minutes in. The Ice Jets would later tie it up in the same period off of goals by Grant Williams and Dan Hudson who scored shorthanded before the buzzer would sound at the end of the second. After the two teams traded Nelson’s second goal for Johnny Henson’s first, they went into a scoreless overtime tied at 4. In the shootout, the Rhinos went first but neither John Morales nor Richard Bohan would take advantage of their opportunities. The second round went slightly different though with Szustak scoring for El Paso and Williams failing to light the siren. Nelson and Hudson both failed in the third round which gave Eric Miller the chance to end it for the Rhinos in the fourth round which is exactly what he did. With the game on his stick, he buried the rubber behind Scoggin to secure the victory. These two teams battled it out hard all weekend but the most productive player had to be El Paso’s Szustak who finished the weekend with 5 points and scored the first goal of the shootout on Sunday. The Rhinos’ goalies also had a bounce back weekend as Trent Casper and Brandon Smolarek combined for only 11 goals against on 100 shots. Those two were easily the difference makers as they stopped a hot Ice Jets team. On the other bench though, Dan Hudson had a weekend to write home to Missouri about as he skated off with three goals and five points for Dallas. It was just one of those weekends for the Ice Jets that didn’t go their way. They weren’t forcing bounces their way when they had the opportunities and because of that El Paso was able to capitalize on their chances. Both teams fly up and down the ice so it was going to be about which team would be able to open up the ice and bury the puck; that team was El Paso this time. This rivalry is easily one of the more intense to witness in the WSHL due to proximity and parity which made the first weekend of the new year, that much more entertaining. The Rhinos have all week to practice before going home for their next six games, starting with three against a New Mexico Renegades team that hasn’t yet come back from Christmas vacation. If the Rhinos play with the same intensity and sense of urgency as they did against Dallas, then their next series should be a breeze against what has the potential to be an overly rested team. Matt Prosser, El Paso Rhinos Beat Writer for JuniorHockey.com. Matt is a freelance writer from the San Francisco Bay Area. For the past two seasons he has been the voice of California State University, Sacramento Hockey and is the host of The Sports Cycle with Matt Prosser on KSSU 1580AM in Sacramento and KSSU.com. His other broadcasts also include Hornets football, baseball, and softball. To get in touch with Matt for comments and writing ventures please e-mail him at [email protected]. You can also follow him on Twitter @kssuMattProsser or visit his website: www.kssusportscycle.com. |
Browse by Month »
June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 June 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 |