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32 // APRIL/MAY 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM but to have that reflected on the ice in the world of hockey was very important." A l l t h e i r e f f o r t s t o i n t e r a c t w i t h t h e community and grow hockey in El Paso have paid off. The junior team sells out about 95 percent of its home games, and according to Deloach, the Rhinos youth program has seen a 2,900 percent growth since 2008. They 've also added a Lady Rhinos program, a high school program and numerous learn-to-play events. "This program makes you realize that it's a privilege to play the sport, especially in such a hospitable community," Beaudet said. "El Paso is a really impoverished com- munity but they still come out and support us. It really makes you take a step back and realize what you're doing." The community support has evolved into a booster club that feeds players after games and a web of billet families willing to support out-of-town players. One of those billets is Carmen Mata, an El Pasoan who has seen the effect of having the Rhinos in the community since the beginning. For Mata, supporting the Rhinos has become a family affair. The seven players that she's bil- leted, including four Europeans, have developed into lasting rela- tionships. In addition, Mata's d a u g h t e r d o e s l i g h t i n g during home games, and her son serves as the team's trainer and equipment manager. "I have this sense of pride in the team and also what the organization does in El Paso," Mata said. "What they do for the commu- nity is above and beyond, and that makes a lot of kids want to be engaged in the sport. It's really amazing. So for us, we'll help in whatever way we can." Despite being a nontraditional market, El Paso is a community that's proud of its hockey team. From the Mata's involve- ment as superfans to players like Beaudet crediting their time with the Rhinos in aiding their personal development, the organization has blossomed in west Texas, bringing all of El Paso's various communities together as one team. "Hockey is different in El Paso, and that's OK," Deloach said. "In sports there's an understanding that peo- ple look up to you, especially kids. Knowing that, our p l a y e r s u n d e r s t a n d that they're role mod- els, that they have a platform to make a d i f f e r e n c e . W i t h the Rhinos, that goes beyond just b e i n g h o c k e y players." P EL PASO The Pride of k By becoming such a big part of the El Paso community, the Rhinos have built up a growing legion of loyal fans. "This program makes you realize that it's a privilege to play the sport, especially in such a hospitable community." —Connor Beaudet