Following Tragedy, El Paso Rallies Around the Rink

10/16/2019

Video originally posted by NBCSports. 

EL PASO, Texas - Amid the fierce competition of sports, there is also a brotherhood. Something that brings people together to rally behind a cause and in the wake of the tragedy in El Paso, Texas. The community found strength, unity and resilience in the local AAU hockey team, the El Paso Rhinos. 

NBC Sports' correspondent Anson Carter and Clayton Collins visited the Rhinos at the El Paso Coliseum Events Center, an arena formerly built as an equestrian center.
Rhino’s Coach and AAU member, Cory Herman spoke on uniqueness of the location and the big family that El Paso is and how they figure things out together.

“You are not going to find a crowd like this anywhere else in America,” said Duke Keith, the voice of the El Paso Rhinos. “This place is intimating. People get into it that way. It is just fun.”

Each game, the stands are packed with parents, siblings, and fans. It is something the El Paso family can be very proud of.

It has been two months since the tragedy, but the Rhinos were the first to contribute to victims and their families, and they didn’t stop there.

The Rhinos hosted the Mexico national junior hockey team in an exhibition game on September 28. Fans from the United States and Mexico filled the arena. After the match, the Rhinos auctioned off jerseys, nearly doubling their donations to victims.

“We want work with one another, to help each other, to develop players,” said Corey Heon, the El Paso General Manager. “That is what this is about.”