Austin Hoff scored twice, including the game-winner, as the El Paso Rhinos swept the Boulder Bison out of the Thorne Cup Playoffs with a 4-1 win Saturday night.
John Morales scored the game-winner at 4:10 of the second overtime and the El Paso Rhinos won Game One of the Mountain Conference Championship in the Thorne Cup Playoffs, 3-2.
In the seven seasons the El Paso Rhinos have been at this game, only once have they failed to advance out of the Western States Hockey League conference playoffs. That was three years ago.
The El Paso Rhinos and the Boulder Bison saved the best for last. After Friday's 3-0 Rhinos' win and Saturday's 4-1 Bison victory, Sunday's rubber match promised to be the best of the three-game series. It lived up to the billing, going to the ninth frame of a shootout before Taylor Barger scored on a top-shelf wrister to win it for El Paso.
(WARNING: NSFW LOCKER ROOM LANGUAGE AT THE END)
The El Paso Rhinos beat the Boulder Bison in the last game of the regular season Sunday to take the Mid-West Division regular season title and wrap up home ice advantage throughout the Thorne Cup Playoffs...