El Paso Rhinos The El Paso Rhinos are a Junior " A " Tier III ice hockey team , based in El Paso , Texas . The Rhinos compete as part of the Mid - West Conference of the Western States Hockey League ( WSHL ) and are the defending Conference Champions . Their home games are played at the Sierra Providence Event Center located within the El Paso County Coliseum complex . Team History . The Rhinos were founded in 2006 by Cory Herman , a retired former El Paso Buzzards professional hockey player . The Buzzards had ceased operations in 2003 and Herman wanted to bring Ice Hockey back to the city of El Paso . The team began their first season as a Junior " B " Hockey Team and became a Junior " A " team just before the start of the 2007 - 08 season . The Rhinos youth hockey program also has teams from mini - mites to midget major AA . The Rhinos Organization has an affiliation to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL . The Rhinos presence in El Paso has been nothing short of a success . They have consistently set and shattered league records . In 2007 - 08 they led the league in attendance a trend that has continued into the 2008 - 09 season . They have also ended each of their seasons with players at the top of the WSHL leaderboards . 2006 - 07 Season ( Junior B ) . The El Paso Rhinos inaugural season saw them clinch the WSHL Midwest Division Title and finishing in second place with a record of 40 - 6 - 1 . Two of the team ' s players Willhite ( RW ) and Jendras ( F ) were in the league ' s top ten scoring leaders . Goaltender Brennan was ranked third amongst the league ' s goalies with a GAA of 2 . 72 . 2007 - 08 Season ( Junior A ) . The Rhinos had a hard fought season that culminated at the WSHL finals . They finished up the season with a record of 48 - 1 - 2 . After winning 6 straight games in the playoffs the team captured the Thorne Cup and became Champions of the WSHL in March 2008 . Goaltender Natali closed his season with a # 3 ranking in the WSHL with a GAA of 1 . 99 . While Willhite ( RW ) and Kohn ( RW ) wrapped up in the league ' s scoring leader top ten . The team represented the WSHL at the National Tournament winning 2 of 3 games , but losing to the National Champions from New Hampshire . 2008 - 09 Season ( Junior A ) . With several Rhinos returning to the team for the 2008 - 09 season as well as new acquisitions joining the team ; the defending Thorne Cup Champions kicked off with a win against the Colorado Outlaws . This win set the stage for the rest of the season which saw unparalleled success . The team registered multiple shutouts against every team in their division . The Rhinos finished the regular season with an impressive record of 45 - 3 - 1 , not only leading the Mid - West division in points ( 91 ) and wins , but the entire WSHL as well . They secured home ice advantage for the 2009 WSHL playoffs . The Rhinos performance in the playoffs was excellent , they swept the Colorado Outlaws and the San Antonio Diablos to become the Mid - West Division Champions for a third straight season . In a rematch of the last two Thorne Cup Finals , the Rhinos faced off against the Phoenix Polar Bears to defend their championship . Despite a great effort by the Rhinos , they lost in the finals without garnering a win . They were one of the two teams who represented the WSHL at the Junior A Nationals . At the close of the 08 - 09 season the Rhinos finished 1st in their division and 2nd in the WSHL overall . 2009 - 10 Season ( Junior A ) . The Rhinos regular season kicked off while on the road with a 2 - 1 series win over the Boulder Bison . Early season momentum was definitely in effect for the Rhinos ' second week where they swept the San Antonio Diablos 3 - 0 . Aside from the team ' s offense stepping up their gameplay significantly , Andrew Duff ( G ) notched his first shutout of the season . In their series against the Tulsa Rampage , Max Dizgun ( G ) earned his first shutout by blocking all 19 shots faced . . Nick Gualano ( RW ) set a new franchise record by scoring an impressive 6 goals in the third game of the series which ended in an 11 - 0 victory for the Rhinos . The Rhinos captured the division ' s top rank , coincidentally a rank held by the Rampage since the season ' s start . The " Rhino Charge " would continue through the next series in Week 5 against their soon - to - be rivals the New Mexico Renegades . Max Dizgun ( G ) notched his second shutout of the season in the team ' s first meeting with the Renegades . The Rhinos went on to sweep all 3 games against the Renegades , Erik Carvajal scored a career high 7 goals in 3 games . He later got injured and was forced to retire . Following a successful test run during the ' 08 - ' 09 playoffs the team announced on April 28 , 2009 that a television deal was signed with Time Warner Cable . All of this season ' s home games will be broadcast on a tape - delayed basis by Metrosports . The Rhinos ' were victorious in their home opener against the Boulder Bison at the Sierra Providence Events Center in late October . They extended their winning streak to 12 straight games , however the streak would not last as the Bison won the second game of the series . The loss would not go unanswered as the Rhinos finished out the week with a second win over Boulder , a game in which David Fegler scored a hat trick . A second meeting against the Renegades took place in Week 7 of the regular season . Just as they had during their first series against New Mexico , the Rhinos swept all three games again . This series was unique in that the first game of the series was played at home in El Paso , where they unveiled special Halloween jerseys ( auctioned off for charity ) ; while the 2 remaining games were played in New Mexico , with the booster club joining them on the road for the Saturday game . The team will continue their road trip this weekend when they face off against Boulder . Community Outreach . The Rhinos frequently wear specialized jerseys on the ice and auction them off to help raise funds for local and / or charitable causes . They have raised money for causes including , but not limited to : Susan G . Komen Breast Cancer Foundation , Special Olympics , and local youth hockey . The Rhinos also receive strong mutual support from the U . S . Military stationed at nearby Fort Bliss . The Rhinos not only host Military Appreciation nights , but they also give free admission ( courtesy of a local sponsor ) to all Military personnel and their families . Coach Herman was approached by Karrie Kern the CEO of the U . S . Branch of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force , after seeing the team ' s bus in San Antonio , Texas . During their conversation she told him the story of an orphaned rhinoceros in Zimbabwe named Tatenda , and jokingly suggested the team adopt her as their mascot . The Rhinos organization thought this was a great idea and so in November 2008 the team adopted Tatenda . Statistics . Tier III Junior B National Championship Tournament . In the 2006 – 07 season , the Rhinos and the WSHL were sanctioned as Tier III Junior B by USA Hockey . Tier III Junior B included teams from the Central States Hockey League ( CSHL ) , Empire Junior Hockey League ( EmJHL ) , Metropolitan Junior Hockey League ( MetJHL ) , Minnesota Junior Hockey League ( MnJHL ) , and the Northern Pacific Hockey League ( NorPac ) . The top two teams from each Junior B league advanced to the National Championship tournament separated into three divisions consisting of four teams each to play in a round robin style . The four teams with best overall records after round robin play would move on to the finals . Tier III Junior A National Championship Tournament . Starting in 2007 – 08 season , the Rhinos and the WSHL were sanctioned as Tier III Junior A by USA Hockey . Tier III Junior A included the Atlantic Junior Hockey League ( AtJHL ) , Central States Hockey League ( CSHL / NA3HL ) , Eastern Junior Hockey League ( EJHL ) , Minnesota Junior Hockey League ( MnJHL ) , and the Northern Pacific Hockey League ( NorPac ) . The top two teams from each Junior A league advanced to the National Championship tournament separated into three divisions consisting of four teams each to play in a round robin style . The four teams with best overall records after round robin play would move on to the finals . United Hockey Union National Championship Tournament . AAU Sanctioned Junior A National ChampionshipIn 2013 and 2014 , the MWJHL , NSHL , and WSHL advanced two teams each to the tournament .