The North American Hockey League (NAHL) El Paso Rhinos (2-1-0-0) out lasted their South Division opponent Oklahoma Warriors (1-2-0-0) in the best of three play-in series. Rhinos’ Head Coach Michael Rivera credited a defense that’s able to match Oklahoma’s line.
“We had a line that we matched against them that’s one of our best defensive lines and shut them down,” Rivera said. “The biggest thing about the game plan was just keeping them in front of us. They really like to get behind us, and they’re really good off the rush.”
Game one witnessed a back-and-forth offensive bout with the Rhinos scoring first at 3:54 in the first period. The goal scored by forward Gaige Giblin, who previously played in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Olds Grizzlys in the 2023-2024 season. He then made a tender signing to the NAHL Springfield Jr. Blues in June of 2024. After playing five games at the start of the 2025-2026 season for the Blues, the Rhinos made him part of the team.
Both teams accumulated 20 penalty minutes (PIM) with the Rhinos going 2/3 on their power play (PP). While Oklahoma went 0/3 on the PP, their offensive efforts with two goals scored in the second period alone by forwards Dominik Kiss and Jackson Hone. The Warriors scored again in the third from Hone early in the period, making the score 4-2. El Paso forward Connor Makowski scored a goal with 2:18 left in the third. The Rhinos take out goalie Michael Modelski to bring in an extra attacker but were unsuccessful, leading to their loss in game 1 4-3.
Game 2 was a complete domination of offense along with the rest of the series. Although the Rhinos garnered more penalty minutes with 10 PIM, the Warriors only scored once by forward Keaton Martin in the second period.
The Rhinos took advantage of their PP chances going 3/5 ending the night 5-1 tying the series 1-1.
Rhinos’ defensemen Alex Gregoire and Jackson Porco gave comments after their game two victory.
“We try to break the puck out really fast so they didn’t have time to create offense on us,” Gregoire said. “Kill plays, good first pass, play hard in the corners.”
Porco gave more insight on the balance between the level of physicality and staying out of the penalty box.
We wanted to match our physicality and bring it up a notch, but at the same time, stay disciplined.” Porco said. “Not take dumb penalties, stay out of the box and let them make the mistakes.”
Game 3 sealed the deal for the Rhinos with a 4-1 victory ending the series 2-1. El Paso forward Troy Hunka scored two goals alone in the first period, along with an assist on forward Kamden Kaiser’s PP goal. Hunka was named the Rhinos’ all-time scoring leader with 82 points and counting on March 28.
Modelski finished the series playing in all three games with a save percentage of 0.938 and earned NAHL star of the month in March and April. The former Pembroke Lumber Kings from the Central Canada Hockey League played for the team in the 2024-2025 before joining the Rhinos organization.
Rivera’s roots in the Rhinos began in 2010. He played hockey in El Paso up until 2013 where he committed to play hockey for the University of Central Oklahoma Broncos. He also coached the team which is part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).
“It was really just pressure, and if they have possession, we’re going to sit back. We’re going to make them work through all five of us and make sure that they have to earn that 200 feet of the net,” Rivera said.
Rivera was certain about where he would be today as head coach of the Rhinos NAHL team.
“You want me to be honest?” Rivera said. “I did, that was the plan all year. You stand in this rink and you see all those banners. It’s the expectation here. Obviously, we had to rebuild the entire roster. We lost 16 guys last year.”
The Rhinos will go on to play the New Mexico Ice Wolves in the South Division semifinals in the best of five series on April 17.
Kristian Hernandez is the sports editor for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected] and social media tags @northeastvideography
