Game 1: El Paso 8 vs. Wausau 2 – Noah Easterson had a game-high five points as the Rhinos cruised to an 8-2 win over the Cyclones. The teams were tied at 1-1 after one period with Caden Butler scoring for El Paso and Hayden Shoemake answering for Wausau. The Rhinos then exploded for six goals in the 2nd period to put the game out of reach as Jaxon Penner scored twice and Riley Hunt-Bahn, Matthew Gross, Payne Pent and Easterson also adding goals. Matthew Barnes would complete the scoring in the 3rd period, while Gage Vierzba had the other Cyclones goal. Camden Pendleton made 33 saves in the win, while Zach Dosan made 22 saves in the loss.
Game 2: Long Beach 4 vs. El Paso 2 – Four different players scored for the Sharks as they picked up their first win the Showcase thanks to a 4-2 win over El Paso. The teams were even at 1-1 after the 1st period as Ryo Yamamoto scored for Long Beach, with Connor Thompson answering for El Paso. Tyler Zembrzycki scored in the 2nd period to put Long Beach ahead 2-1. In the 3rd period, a goal from El Paso’s Noah Easterson made it 2-2. Later in the period, goals from Dylan Harbour and Hayden Doggett secured the win for the Sharks. Long Beach goalie Ryo Murakami made 28 saves in the win, while Peyton Brendel made 27 saves in the loss.
Game 3: Bozeman 1 vs El Paso 5: The Rhinos held Bozeman to just one goal in their dominant 5-1 victory. Five different skaters lit the lamp for El Paso, Caden Butler opening up the scores in the 1st with a goal. Connor Thompson and Riley Hunt-Bahn both potted a goal in the 2nd; Payne Pent and Noah Easterson found more insurance goals in the 3rd. Thompson and Pent also dished a helper for the Rhinos. Wesley Rees scored the lone Bozeman goal midway through the 2nd period. Camden Pendleton was sturdy between the pipes for El Paso, stopping 32 shots in the victory. Bozeman netminder Collin Soderholm made 39 saves.
