El Paso Rhinos
| El Paso Rhinos | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | El Paso, Texas |
| League | WSHL |
| Division | Midwest |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Home arena | Sierra Providence Events Center |
| Colors | Orange, Black, Gray, White |
| General manager | Cory Herman |
| Head coach | Cory Herman |
| Media | America One |
| Website | www.elpasorhinos.com |
| Franchise history | |
| 2006–present | El Paso Rhinos |
| Championships | |
| Division Championships | 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15 |
| Playoff championships |
Thorne Cup: (2008, 2014) UHU National Champions: (2014) USA Hockey Tier III Jr Nationals (2011 Silver Medalist) |
The El Paso Rhinos are an Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned junior ice hockey team, based in El Paso, Texas. The Rhinos compete as part of the Midwest Division of the Western States Hockey League (WSHL). Their home games are played at the Sierra Providence Events Center located within the El Paso County Coliseum complex.
In 2006, retired former El Paso Buzzards professional hockey player Cory Herman founded the El Paso Rhinos. The Buzzards had ceased operations in 2003 and Herman wanted to bring ice hockey back to the city of El Paso. The franchise’s first season in the WSHL (a USA Hockey sanctioned Tier III Junior B league) was successful and were made it to the 2007 Thorne Cup Championship. They lost to the Phoenix Polar Bears but by placing second in the playoffs they qualified for the Tier III Junior B National Championship Tournament. After the conclusion of the 2006–07 season, Commissioner Ron White announced the approval of Tier III Junior A status for the WSHL.
In the 2007–08 season, the Rhino's finished first in the overall standings with only 1 loss in regulation. Rhinos player Marcus Wilhite turned in a 46-goal, 109 point season to lead the Mid-West Division of the WSHL in scoring. El Paso’s early success attracted higher-level talent and the team acquired players like Anthony Paulsen, who led his previous league in scoring among all defenseman, scoring 6 goals and 18 assists in 38 MJHL games. The Rhinos faced off against the Phoenix Polar Bears in the WSHL championship after sweeping the Tulsa Rampage for the Mid-West Division Champion title. The Rhinos defeated the Polar Bears and won the 2008 Thorne Cup before moving on their first Tier III Junior A Nationals as the WSHL champion.
The Rhinos won 11 straight games to start the 2008–09 season before losing 5-6 to the Tulsa Rampage. El Paso became the Mid-West Division Champions for the third time in three years, beating the San Antonio Diablos, by scores of 6-3 and 9-3, to sweep the Diablos in the Mid-West Division Finals. However, the Rhinos would be lose the 2009 Thorne Cup Championship by being swept by the Phoenix Polar Bears. By being the runner-up in the Thorne Cup Finals, the Rhinos would represent the WSHL at the Tier III Junior A Hockey Nationals for a second time in Marlboro, Massachusetts along with the Polar Bears. During the 2008–09 season, the El Paso Rhinos would adopt Tatenda, an actual rhino in Africa, as a mascot. Though the rhino was not physically moved to America, the organization continues to donate to the organization to cover Tatenda’s food and upkeep expenses.
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