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58-720: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2018–19 NA3HL The El Paso Rhinos are a junior ice hockey organization based in El Paso, Texas . Their home games are played at the County Events Center located within the El Paso County Coliseum complex. The Rhinos are members of the Tier II junior North American Hockey League (NAHL) after adding the team as an expansion franchise in 2021. The organization also has

116-614: A Tier III team that was originally a member of the Amateur Athletic Union -sanctioned Western States Hockey League from 2006 to 2020 before joining the North American 3 Hockey League for the 2020–21 season. In 2006, retired former El Paso Buzzards professional hockey player Cory Herman founded the El Paso Rhinos. The Buzzards had ceased operations in 2003 and Herman wanted to bring ice hockey back to

174-608: A director with the Czech Ice Hockey Association , felt that Junior-aged players were enticed to play in North America before maturation, with a negative effect on the development of the player and the European system. He stated that of the 527 Czech Republic players who went to North American Junior hockey, only 22 of them played more than 400 NHL games. He sought to establish a European system that

232-720: A professional team, and are used by professional teams to develop their own prospects. One example of this is the J20 SuperElit league in Sweden or the Minor Hockey League in Russia . The lack of an amateur draft in Europe means that the onus is on the teams to sign the most talented young players they can get, and the presence of an affiliated junior team provides a place for young players who are not yet ready for

290-721: A score of 3–1. In the second game, the Rhinos once again faced the Steelheads and took the game to overtime before losing in the shootout for a final score of 2–3. The Rhinos would defeat the Soo Firehawks of the Midwest Junior Hockey League by a score of 8–3 in game three of the round robin. The Rhinos' record of 2-0-1 qualified them for the semifinals where they once again defeated the Firehawks by

348-611: A score or 12-2 leading to a Thorne Cup championship rematch with the Steelheads. The Rhinos met the Steelheads for the third time in three weeks coming away with a 6–3 win for El Paso and their first national championship Title. Similar to the Thorne Cup championship, Bryce Fink would also be named tournament MVP. The 2020 Thorne Cup playoffs were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the WSHL later announced it would go dormant for

406-653: A significant concentration of teams in the central and southwestern parts of the United States, although the league began to expand to east coast as of 2015. In October 2016, the Tier III United States Premier Hockey League , a league predominately located on the east coast, applied to USA Hockey for approval of a Tier II league to begin in the 2017–18 season, however, the league was denied that December and decided to operate its Tier II league independently. The NAHL, like

464-817: Is currently the only Tier I league in the country, consisting of teams in the central and midwestern United States. The USHL provides an alternative to the Canadian Hockey League, which pays its major junior hockey players a stipend, for players who wish to maintain NCAA eligibility for later in their career. While playing in the USHL, all player expenses are paid for by the team; no membership or equipment fees are charged. Unlike major junior teams, free-college stipend does not exist. Historically, professional leagues have drafted less directly from USHL teams, although this trend has shifted in recent years, coinciding with

522-631: The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) instead of USA Hockey leading to some teams leaving the league and the addition of others. The 2011–12 season was another regular season first-place finish in the Midwest Conference and a Midwest Conference Playoff Championship. The Rhinos defeated the New Mexico Renegades 2 games to 1 in the division semifinals and defeated the Dallas Ice Jets 2 games to 1. With three conferences in

580-959: The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) : The championship teams from each league, as well as a pre-selected host team, compete for the Memorial Cup in a round-robin tournament to determine a national champion. Major Junior players were historically deemed ineligible to play college hockey in the United States , because they were considered to be professionals by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Major Junior players retain their eligibility for Canadian universities however, and all three leagues have scholarship programs for players. The NCAA changed its position and decided that CHL players were no longer ineligible as of

638-616: The Clarence Schmalz Cup which was first awarded in 1938. The Ontario Junior C playoffs are played for between six of the Province's seven different regional leagues. In Quebec and West of Manitoba, Junior C hockey tends to be an extension of the local minor hockey system and is sometimes called Juvenile or House League. In Ontario, Manitoba, and the Maritimes, Junior C is run independently of minor hockey systems, though with

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696-823: The Coupe Dodge in Quebec , the Don Johnson Cup in the Atlantic Provinces , and the Keystone Cup that represents all of Western Canada, from British Columbia to Northwestern Ontario . Junior C (Junior A in Québec ) generally consists of local competitions, but is considered competitive in some regions, and serve as seeding or farm-teams for Junior B teams. Ontario Junior C Hockey has six rounds of best-of-seven playoffs (up to 42 games per team) for

754-694: The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League has operated as an independent league in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta. The league widely recruits players from outside of North America. In late 2016, the United States Premier Hockey League , an organization composed of several USA Hockey Tier III Junior as well as many youth hockey leagues, applied for a Tier II league. The Tier II status was denied in December 2016 but

812-442: The North American 3 Hockey League Some Junior ice hockey leagues operate outside the framework of governing bodies such as Hockey Canada and USA Hockey , typically due to disagreements with governing bodies over player recruitment policies and finances. These leagues are sometimes referred to as 'unsanctioned', 'rogue' or 'outlaw' leagues due to their lack of sanctioning or oversight from an outside governing body. Since 2006,

870-662: 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. AAU Sanctioned Junior A National Championship In 2013 and 2014, the MWJHL , NSHL , and WSHL advanced two teams each to

928-619: The US . In 2023, the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) withdrew from the Hockey Canada framework, and thus became an independent league. In response, BC Hockey announced plans to restructure its Junior framework, which included an opportunity for some Junior B teams (styled "Junior A Tier 2" by BC Hockey) to be promoted to Junior A (styled "Junior A Tier 1" by BC Hockey) and eventually seek membership with

986-492: 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

1044-470: The 2011–12, 2012–13, and 2013–14 AWHL seasons prior to the league merging with the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) in 2014. For many years, the team and the arena were owned by Oren Koules , president of Evolution Entertainment and former part-owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning ( NHL ). However, in 2017, he was looking to sell off the team or cease operations. In May 2017, he sold

1102-601: The 2020–21 season due to the effects of the pandemic in May 2020. On June 16, 2020, the Rhinos announced it would join the South Division of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), effective for the 2020–21 season. Beginning the 2021–22 season, the Rhinos plan on joining the South Division in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). After leaving the WSHL, the city of El Paso and the Rhinos won

1160-466: The 2025–26 season. The decision was made after a class action was filed on behalf of a player who was declared ineligible after having played two exhibition games in the OHL when he was 16 years old. The CHL places a cap of three 20-year-old players per team, and allows up to four 16-year-olds on each roster. While 15-year-old players were formerly permitted to play a limited number of games per season at

1218-711: The American West Division of the NorPac league broke away to form the American West Hockey League . In March 2014, the NA3HL accepted the AWHL as a new Frontier Division. The original Helena Bighorns were members of the former Tier II America West Hockey League from 2001 to 2003 after replacing the departed Helena Gold Rush that had operated last in the 1999–2000 season (formerly known as

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1276-566: The Bighorns competed in the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Junior A National Tournaments. In 2011, USA Hockey dropped the A and B designations but sometimes had the leagues split into different divisions during the tournament (American/National for 2012 or Div 1/Div 2 for 2015 with 2013 and 2014 having all leagues compete in one tournament). The Bighorns represented the American West Hockey League in 2012, 2013, and 2014. In 2011,

1334-585: The CHL level, they are now permitted to play only if they are deemed exceptional by Hockey Canada . As of 2024 , nine players have qualified under this rule: centre John Tavares in 2005, defenceman Aaron Ekblad in 2011, centre Connor McDavid in 2012, defenceman Sean Day in 2013, centre Joe Veleno in 2015, centre Shane Wright in 2019, forward Connor Bedard in 2020, forward Michael Misa in 2022, and defenceman Landon DuPont in 2024. CHL teams are currently permitted two "imports" (players from outside Canada and

1392-772: The CJHL. The league expected the evaluations to be completed during the 2024—25 season. Junior B (Junior AA in Québec ; Tier 2 in British Columbia ) was created in 1933, to differentiate between teams eligible for Memorial Cup competition and those who were not. The major championships across Canada are the Sutherland Cup in Southern Ontario , the Barkley Cup in the Ottawa District ,

1450-822: The Helena Ice Pirates from 1994 to 1999). In 2003, the AWHL merged with the larger Tier II North American Hockey League and the Bighorns played in the NAHL until 2006. In 2004, the Tier III Northern Pacific Hockey League (NorPac) expanded into Helena with the Queen City Cutthroats and were immediately successful, winning the Cascade Cup in their first year. In 2006, the NAHL Bighorns withdrew from

1508-821: The Humane Society of El Paso and the Animal Rescue League of El Paso. 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 about an orphaned rhinoceros in Zimbabwe named Tatenda and jokingly suggested the team adopt her as their mascot . The Rhinos organization thought this

1566-605: The Junior A British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) withdrew its membership with Hockey Canada and became an independent league. In 2024, the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) announced that it would also withdraw from the Hockey Canada framework and become an independent farm league for the BCHL beginning in the 2024-25 season. In Europe, Junior teams are usually associated with

1624-627: The Kraft Hockeyville USA competition, which awards the city's arena $ 150,000 in upgrades. For the 2021–22 season, Herman remained the head coach with the Tier II Rhinos while the organization hired Nick Mammel as the head coach of the Tier III NA3HL Rhinos. After 15 years as head coach of the Rhinos, Cory Herman stepped down to focus on team operations and hired Anthony Bohn as head coach of the NAHL team. In

1682-781: The Mid-West and Mid-West Conference Playoff Championship win over the Boulder Bison. The Rhinos would lose the 2011 Thorne Cup championship to the Idaho Jr. Steelheads without winning a game. The Rhinos would again represent the WSHL in the national tournament in Minnesota. The Rhinos’ first game ended in a tie with the Granite City Lumberjacks , the second was a win over the Northern Cyclones , and

1740-831: The Midwest Division, and first in points in the WSHL. The Rhinos would win their second Thorne Cup championship and post an undefeated playoff record of 9-0-0 defeating the Idaho Jr. Steelheads (4-2 in game 1 of the round robin and 7–3 in the Thorne Cup championship game), the Phoenix Knights (5-3 in game 2 of the round robin and 4–3 in the Thorne Cup Semifinals), the Texas Jr. Brahmas (2 games to 1 in Conference Finals and 9–3 in game 3 of

1798-446: The NAHL and the NorPac franchise would take the name of the formerly higher level team beginning with the 2006–07 season. The Helena Bighorns/Queen City Cutthroats won six straight NorPac America West Division Championships between 2005 and 2010. They also won the NorPac Cascade Cup six times, 2005, 2006 and four straight from 2008 to 2011. The Helena Bighorns have won three straight American West Hockey League Championships in

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1856-530: 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. 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

1914-425: The Phoenix Polar Bears in the WSHL championship after sweeping the Tulsa Rampage for the Mid-West Division Champion title. The Rhinos defeated the Polar Bears and won the 2008 Thorne Cup before moving on to their first Tier III Junior A Nationals as the WSHL champion. The Rhinos won 11 straight games to start the 2008–09 season before losing 5–6 to the Tulsa Rampage. El Paso became the Mid-West Division champions for

1972-410: The Polar Bears. During the 2008–09 season, the El Paso Rhinos would adopt Tatenda, an actual rhino in Africa, as a mascot. Though the rhino was not physically moved to America, the organization continues to donate to the organization to cover Tatenda's food and upkeep expenses. The 2009–10 season was another successful year with the Rhinos finishing first in the Mid-West and tied for first in the WSHL in

2030-462: The Rhinos would defeat the Bay Area Seals 6-3 and the Fresno Monsters 8–3. However, the Rhinos would lose the semifinal game to the Seals by a score of 7–2. By the end of the 2012–13 season, the Rhinos had broken franchise attendance records for most sold-out crowds in one season, largest crowd in a season, and overall total attendance for the year. In 2013–14, the Rhinos earned a 44-2-0 record, good for another first place regular season finish, now in

2088-520: The Tier III level pay a fee or tuition, commonly ranging from $ 4,000 to $ 9,500. This is for all accounts and purposes an amateur level, although some players go directly to NCAA Division I schools. Most Tier III players are looking to increase their skills in hopes to move up to Tier II or I, while other players go directly to NCAA Division III , ACHA and CHF schools. Prior to July 2011, USA Hockey split Tier III into Junior A and B divisions. USA Hockey currently has one sanctioned Tier III league,

2146-433: The US) each. Up until 1970, the leagues that were classified as Major Junior and "Junior A" today were both part of Junior A. In 1970 they were divided into "Tier I Junior A" or "Major Junior A" and "Tier II Junior A". In 1980, the three Major Junior A leagues opted for self-control over being controlled by the branches of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) and became Major Junior hockey, Tier II Junior A became

2204-449: The USHL, provides young players an alternative to major junior hockey, although the skill level is considered significantly lower than major junior hockey and typically filled with those who would not or did not make the roster of a Tier I team. Unlike Tier I, the NAHL does not pay for all players' expenses, such as room and board, but there is no tuition cost to the player as in Tier III. In addition to paying for room and board, players at

2262-412: The USNTDP moving to the USHL in 2009-10. In the 2019 NHL Entry Draft , 17 of the 44 players drafted out of the USHL played for the USNTDP. Those 44 draft picks were 16 more than any of the three leagues in the Canadian Hockey League, and included 9 first round picks (8 of which came from the USNTDP) and 7 second round picks. For most of its existence the USHL was considered inferior in quality of play to

2320-422: The USPHL moved forward with the new league anyway, creating the National Collegiate Development Conference. In response, the USPHL has removed all their junior level leagues (the NCDC and the Tier III-level Premier and Elite Divisions) from USA Hockey sanctioning since the 2017–18 season. In 2022, the Eastern Hockey League , which was operating two Tier III leagues, also left USA Hockey sanctioning. In 2023,

2378-407: The WSHL for this season, the playoff winners and runners-up moved on to the Thorne Cup championship for a 2-game round robin style series held in the Rhinos' home arena in El Paso. The Rhinos lost to the Idaho Jr. Steelheads before defeating the Fresno Monsters to for an 1-1-0 record. The Dallas Ice Jets and Idaho Jr. Steelheads would both finish the round robin with two wins leaving the Rhinos out of

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2436-531: The approval of Tier III Junior A status for the WSHL. In the 2007–08 season, the Rhino's finished first in the overall standings with only 1 loss in regulation. Rhinos player Marcus Wilhite turned in a 46-goal, 109 point season to lead the Mid-West Division of the WSHL in scoring. El Paso's early success attracted higher-level talent and the team acquired players like Anthony Paulsen, who led his previous league in scoring among all defenseman, scoring 6 goals and 18 assists in 38 MJHL games. The Rhinos faced off against

2494-425: The championship game. For 2012–13 season, El Paso was moved to the Mountain Conference for one season after an influx of midwestern teams. Regardless of new opponents, the Rhinos still finished the regular season in first place in the conference. The Rhinos would run through the Mountain Conference Playoffs without losing a game to the Phoenix Knights and the Boulder Bison. In the Thorne Cup championship round robin,

2552-412: The city of El Paso. The franchise's first season in the WSHL (a USA Hockey sanctioned Tier III Junior B league) was successful and they made it to the 2007 Thorne Cup championship. They lost to the Phoenix Polar Bears but by placing second in the playoffs they qualified for the Tier III Junior B National Championship Tournament. After the conclusion of the 2006–07 season, Commissioner Ron White announced

2610-484: The departure of its only Junior A league . Its three Junior B leagues ( PJHL , KIJHL and VIJHL ) were re-styled as "Junior A Tier 2", with plans to promote some to "Junior A Tier 1" following an independent evaluation. It was expected that those teams promoted to "Junior A Tier 1" would eventually apply for membership in the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), an association of Junior A leagues governed by Hockey Canada and its regional branches . BC Hockey expected

2668-427: The evaluations to be completed during the 2024-25 season. Before the process was completed, the VIJHL announced that it would also withdraw from the Hockey Canada framework and become an independent farm league for the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) beginning in the 2024-25 season. Major Junior is the highest level of Junior ice hockey in Canada. There are three Major Junior leagues that collectively make up

2726-413: The major junior levels. But it continued to improve and as of 2019 about 21 percent of NHL players had played USHL in their career. Between 80 and 90 percent of USHL players continued into NCAA hockey. Currently, the North American Hockey League is the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II league in the United States. The NAHL consists of teams spread across the western two thirds of the United States with

2784-438: The regular season. However, the team would lose in the playoffs to the Boulder Bison and not qualify for the national tournament. In June 2010, the franchise opened the El Paso Rhinos Training Center, a hockey specific gym that contains state of the art equipment. The new training facility led to numerous players signing with the Rhinos for the 2010–11 season. The 2010–11 season led to another first place regular season finish in

2842-465: The rigours of the professional game to develop. However, not all players on a European junior team are necessarily property of their professional club, and may elect to sign elsewhere. At the World Hockey Summit in 2010, nations in Europe expressed concern about the number of junior players leaving to play in North America, despite the improved talent level and the increasing popularity of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Junior Championships . Slavomir Lener,

2900-429: The round robin), and the Dallas Snipers (2 games to 1 in Conference Semifinals). Goalie Bryce Fink would be named Thorne Cup MVP after earning six of the wins. After the Thorne Cup championship, the Rhinos traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to represent the WSHL in the second UHU National Championship tournament. In the first game, the Rhinos would defeat the Jersey Shore Wildcats of the Northern States Hockey League by

2958-462: The same mostly recreational purpose. Junior ice hockey in the United States is sanctioned by USA Hockey . The top level is Tier I, represented by the United States Hockey League . Tier II is represented by the North American Hockey League . There are several Tier III and independently sanctioned leagues throughout the country. Some US-based teams play in Canadian leagues outside of the USA Hockey framework. The United States Hockey League (USHL)

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3016-417: The team to local businessman Randy Rose. Koules remained the owner of Helena Ice Arena. In 2021, the team was sold to a local ownership group Treasure State Sports Group LTD, composed of Jedidiah Snyder and Michael Greene. In 2005 and 2006, the Queen City Cutthroats participated in the USA Hockey Tier III Junior B National Tournament. In 2007, NorPac and its teams were promoted to Tier III Junior A status and

3074-407: The third game was a win over the Chicago Hitmen . El Paso's 2-0-1 record earned a spot in the Tier III Junior A Finals round. Goaltender Trent Casper led the Rhinos to a 2–1 win over the Idaho Jr. Steelheads in the semifinal before losing to the Helena Bighorns in the national championship game. Prior to the 2011–12 season the WSHL would join the United Hockey Union (UHU) and become sanctioned by

3132-435: The third time in three years, beating the San Antonio Diablos, by scores of 6-3 and 9–3, to sweep the Diablos in the Mid-West Division Finals. However, the Rhinos would lose the 2009 Thorne Cup championship by being swept by the Phoenix Polar Bears. By being the runner-up in the Thorne Cup Finals, the Rhinos would represent the WSHL at the Tier III Junior A Hockey Nationals for a second time in Marlboro, Massachusetts along with

3190-502: The top tier of hockey in the CAHA and became Junior A hockey. Junior A (Junior AAA in Québec ; Tier 1 in British Columbia ) hockey is one level below Major Junior. It is governed by the respective regional branches of Hockey Canada . The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is an association of nine Junior A leagues: The national championship is the Centennial Cup . Unlike Major Junior players, Junior A players retain their NCAA eligibility and may go on to play college hockey in

3248-485: The tournament. The Rhinos frequently wear specialized jerseys on the ice and auction them off to help raise funds for charitable causes including: 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 , hosting military appreciation nights with free admission for military personnel and their families. The Rhinos also host adoption days with

3306-500: Was a great idea and adopted Tatenda in November 2008. Junior ice hockey There are four levels of Junior hockey in the Canadian Club System: 1. Major Junior, 2. Junior A, 3. Junior B, and 4. Junior C. Not all teams playing in Canadian Junior leagues are based in Canada . As of 2024 , there were approximately twelve US-based teams playing in various Major Junior and Junior A leagues in Canada. In 2023, BC Hockey announced plans to restructure its Junior framework following

3364-399: Was competitive enough to deter players from entering into the CHL Import Draft . Helena Bighorns The Helena Bighorns are a Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) based in Helena , Montana United States. The team plays their home games at the 1,600-seat Helena Ice Arena. The Bighorns were members of the NorPac from 2007 to 2011. In 2011,

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