The El Paso Rhinos returned to the ice on Aug. 23 for their annual Black vs. Orange Scrimmage, a preseason tradition, giving fans a first look at the new roster. The orange squad claimed a dominant 4-0 shutout, leaving players and fans optimistic about the upcoming season.
The 2024-25 season marked a step forward for the Rhinos, who finished with a 29-26-1-3 record. They tied one game and lost three matches in shootouts, placing fifth in the South Division. Their playoff run was cut short in the South Division Play-In Series, where they lost the series 2-1 to the New Mexico Ice Wolves.
For goalie Brayden Macko, the game was more than just a scrimmage. It was a reminder of the goals the team has set for the 2025-26 season.
“Team goals [are] definitely staying in the win bracket for sure, above .500, and most definitely winning all games at home,” Macko said.
Britton Oldham reiterated that the Rhinos are focused on making the playoffs.
“As a team, we want to win and make a good run in the playoffs,” Oldham said. “I think a lot of the fans really want a winning team around here, and we’re going to do everything in our power to bring a Robby Cup back to El Paso.”
While the scrimmage displayed plenty of energy and speed, both players acknowledged areas for improvement with Macko pointing to tempo as a key factor.
“Most definitely keeping things fast paced, moving pucks north as fast as we can, and just playing as much offense as we can,” Macko said.
Oldham added that physicality plays a big role for the team.
“In this league, it’s fast and physical, so we’ve got to keep the speed and physicality up. Once we get our structure going, I think we’ll be a team that’s hard to play against,” Oldham said.
Both players stressed the importance of building team culture outside the rink.
“Winning is important, but another thing is seeing how close all the boys come together,” Macko said. “Just bringing in that Rhino culture, treating everyone like family.”
Head Coach Mike Rivera enters his second full season with the Rhinos, offering stability after last year’s midseason coaching change. With a full year under new leadership, the team is focused on making a deeper playoff run.
To reach those playoff goals, Macko stressed the importance of starting strong and staying consistent throughout the whole season.
“We can’t be throwing early games away thinking things will get easy later,” Macko said. “We want to clinch a spot and just go to playoffs from there.”
The orange team’s 4-0 victory in the scrimmage may not count in the standings, but it provided fans with a first look at the Rhinos’ roster ahead of the season.
Adrian Gonzalez is a sophomore multimedia journalism major at The University of Texas at El Paso and may be reached at [email protected]
