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"I played for three different junior teams and this is the only one that I was deeply involved in the community with," said Beaudet, who served as the Rhinos' captain during the 2015- 16 season. "There's a reason they get so many fans out to games and why people want to go down to El Paso and play there." The Rhinos may be back-to-back Thorne Cup Champions in 2018 and 2019—with a strong chance to do it again this year before the remainder of the season was cancelled— but hockey in El Paso is bigger than any piece of championship hardware. When a player arrives in this west Texas border town, there's an expectation that hockey is only a part of the experience. A big- ger part is fitting into the community. Players are expected to do a variety of things, ranging from elementary school visits to "training " at the local military base. Those who don't buy into the team-first mentality typically don't last long. "There's a very common knowledge—here and in the hockey world—that if you're not willing to work, you won't make it," said Tyler Deloach, director of operations for the Rhinos. "It takes a lot of hard work and a very spe- cific work ethic, and if you don't have that, you tend not to stay." Deloach says the daily schedule looks some- thing like this: wake up early to be on the ice by 7 for a two-hour practice, followed by off-ice training or physical therapy and then make the rounds at various community appearances. Rhinos players are out in the community almost daily, mentoring youngsters through a local school program called Skate Mates. When they're not in classrooms or gymna- siums, Rhinos players are volunteering at the local Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA, coaching youth hockey and participating in learn-to-skate initiatives. These community outreach efforts extend to game days, where players stick around after every home game for a post-game skate with fans. Some games have even been dedi- cated to fostering community and honoring the local heritag e, like hosting Mexico's national under-20 team for a two-game exhi- bition series in September. T h e s e r i e s, w h i c h t o o k p l a c e s h o r t l y after last August's mass shooting at a local Walmart that left 22 dead and 24 injured, saw nearly 4,000 fans come together at the El Paso County Coliseum in the spirit of international friendship and brotherhood. "We wanted to do something to show how we are bringing our communities together," Deloach said. "We're intertwined regardless PHOTOS COURTESY OF Tyler Deloach APRIL/MAY 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 31 k The El Paso Rhinos community outreach program includes visiting local schools and hospitals to cheer up fans of all ages.