The Amarillo Wranglers split a two-game series with North American Hockey League South Division rival, El Paso this past weekend at the Budweiser Bullpen.

The Rhinos were victorious in the in Friday’s opener 5-2 with Amarillo coming back to avoid the sweep with a 4-3 victory Saturday night.

Amarillo (8-7-0-1, 17 points) is currently tied with the El Paso Rhinos for fifth place in the South Division, one point behind the Odessa Jackalopes. The Wranglers will have a bye this weekend from league play.

Friday’s game

The El Paso Rhinos made their season debut at the Amarillo Civic Center for the “Classroom to Colosseum” event that is held yearly. The Wranglers organization hosted numerous grade schools and home schools throughout the panhandle in this special event that introduces these young students to hockey.

In front of over 2,000 screaming and enthusiastic grade school students that would give an audience at a K-Pop Demon Hunters movie premiere a run for its money, El Paso scored twice as a result of two power-plays in the penalty filled first period. Amarillo remained scoreless in the first period like Rumi asking for water before the end of her Demon Hunters concert. The Rhinos held a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission.

Recently acquired forward from the Aberdeen Wings, Caden Hegarty scored his first NAHL goal as the Amarillo Wranglers cut the Rhinos lead by half. A minute later, Wranglers import/forward Alfons Jenters snuck one past Rhinos goalie Michael Modelski, tying this “ scream-fest” game up 2-2. With just a minute left in the second period, Rhinos Brendan Murray split the seam and blast one past Wranglers goalie Charles Antoine Girard, taking a 3-2 lead going into the final intermission.

With a Civic Center full of excited and screaming grade schoolers like an encore performance at a K-pop concert, the Amarillo Wranglers hit the ice looking to satisfy this win-hungry crowd. The first half of the third period saw a strong defensive battle between the two goalies. At the 10:12 mark, Rhino forward Ethan Woolcott score his second goal of the game, giving the Rhinos a 4-2  lead.

At the 1:37 mark of the third period, Amarillo head coach Michael Hill pulled goalie Girard, giving the Wranglers a man advantage in an attempt to tie the game up. With an empty net at the 1:03 mark of the final period, Rhinos forward and team leading goal scorer (6) Troy Hunka hit the empty netter, giving the Rhinos their 7th victory of the season.

Amarillo goalie Charles Antoine Girard took the loss, saving 27-of-31 shots in only his second loss of the season.

Saturday’s game

It was “Hispanic Heritage Night” at the Budweiser Bullpen this Saturday night at the Pista De Hielo (Spanish for ice rink). Coming into this game, the El Paso Rhinos were hotter than the Habanero Salsa served at El Manantial riding a four-game winning streak. 

The first period of this game saw some incredible net minding between two very talented goaltenders. Both goaltenders swatted the puck as they were shot like tortillas tossed at a Texas Tech football game.  Rhinos goalie Michael Modelski and Wranglers goalie Charles Antoine Girard were perfect in the opening period. 

Latvia native Domeniks Domokejevs started the scoring off at the 16:28 mark of the first period when he took a drop pass from linemate Mason Lupo to give the Wranglers 1-0 lead. This was Domokejeys first goal as an Amarillo Wrangler. Both goalies continued their extraordinary goaltending throughout the period as Amarillo held onto the 1-0 lead going into the second intermission. 

Less than two minutes into the third period, “the Captain” Jacob Miller received a “Bee line” pass from Jake “the Snake” Boulanger and hit the back of the net, giving Amarillo a 2-0 lead.  Jacob Miller leads the Wranglers in points with a total of 13.

The Amarillo Wranglers found themselves in a power-play situation at the 9:39 mark of the third period when Jacob Miller started the rush. Miller shot a lightning bolt pass to line mate Danylo Dolin who in turn passed the puck to Jake Boulanger in front of the net as the “Snake” slithered the puck into the net, giving Amarillo a 3-0 lead. The Rhinos scored 2 late period goals, making this game interesting. With 1:47 left in the game, Rhinos head coach pulled his goalie.

The extra offensive power for the Rhinos paid zero dividends as the Wranglers went on to win this exciting game 3-2.

Amarillo goalie Charles Antoine Girard stopped 27-of-29 shots, improving his record to 4-2. Amarillo Wrangler Jake Boulanger earned First Star of the game, while adding to his team leading game-winning goals of two.

Editor’s Note

Please listen for Tommy Tee‘s weekly recap of Amarillo Wranglers hockey on the “Drive at Five” with Lance Lahnert every Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. exclusively on 710-AM KGNC.