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NJBadApple · 07-11-2019, 07:56 PM

The Texas Renegades, one of the most storied expansion teams in the SHL. They were founded in Season 10 by now-inactive member Wadester, one of the most legendary players in Texas history (Elias Armia). Other General Managers in the team's history are:

@Wadey (S10-S18)
@NathanAD (S19-S22)
@Midas Whale (S23-S24)
@Deener (S24-S29)
@Allen (S29-S36)
@Phobospwns (S37-S39)
@dankoa (S40-present)

Anyway, the Renegades quickly rose to their feet and become a nightmare for those opposing them on the ice. It took just four seasons after inception for them to win their first Challenge Cup, followed by three more leading up to present day (S20, S21, S36). Pound for pound, they are one of the winnigest teams in the SHL posting a lifetime record of 997-740-171 and have likely surpassed that with Season 48 coming to a close. Our of their 38 season history, only 13 times have they failed to qualify for the playoffs entirely. Furthermore, their players have raked in a whopping 52 league-wide awards since the team was founded 38 seasons ago. When it comes to Hall of Fame players, Texas holds their own & then some. In total, their HoF holds 18 players. Elias Armia, Aidan Richan, Chris Partlow, Jordin FourFour, Taylor McDavid, and Chico Salmon are a few of the more recognizable names among the bunch... but all are equally worthy.

THROWBACK MEMORIES

What's a biography about the Renegades without a little throwback action? I decided to take some time (way more than I should have tbh) and dig through some of the ancient media section, notably back when the team was founded back in Season 10. Here you'll be able to look back at some old posts & now defunct members talking about the league in it's original days. The first article is a no-brainer to me:

First Captains

No better way to start our stroll down memory lane than the announcing of the very first captains in Texas history, posted by the founding GM back in September of 2012. TJ Barbeau and Saku Perhonen were named the alternates, while Drizzy Drake holds the distinction as the first ever captain in Renegades history. He was also their first draft pick in history, being chosen at 3rd overall after going 5th overall in the NWJHL (old huh?) draft. Lots of good ol' boys in this thread, and a bonus to actually see the N and F words on the forum before they were completely banned.

Panthers protest loss to Texas

This was a fun little article I came across. Apparently towards the end of S10, the Panthers and Renegades were fighting for a playoff spot and some miscommunication happened where the correct goalie for the Panthers ended up NOT in net, and Texas won the game. 18 pages of chaos ensued, flooded with peoeple supporting both sides of the argument. If I'm reading the later pages correctly, it seemed as if a re-sim was NOT granted for the simmer's error... which is typically the standard anyway.

Everything Renegades Article

Another great article. If you only read one of these, I really suggest this one to be it. Not too long and it covers everything from when Spangle announced the expansion of two more teams (including the Buffalo Thunder) all the way through the draft & things to look forward to in the future.

Saku Perhonen leads the way for Texas

Small article about one of the team's first alternate captains. @Green was a heavily active member for the longest time and recently tried (2017) to make a return to the SHL to no consistent avail, returning only a handful of times between then & current day.

TEX Roster Punishment

What's history of a team without throwing in a punishment? There were MANY pages of punishments to sift through, so I just grabbed the most recent one (besides all of Logan's suspensions). Just last pre-season, GM's @dankoa and @ligma iced an illegal roster and suffered the entire regular season without pay. While I do think this is a bit of an overreaction for a mistake in the PRE-SEASON, mistakes are mistakes and the Texas GM's paid for it.

Texas Renegades; Best Team Ever?

A lengthy article (3,000+ words) written in great detail by @easymoneysniper, who has been inactive now for almost two calendar years. This was completed & posted right after their back to back cup wins in S20 and S21, interviewing many, if not ALL of the current players on the team during that time. It goes over their thoughts on the tema & how they had grown over the past few seasons, including looking into the "future". Plenty of throwback names to recognize here for some nostalgia. Also, yes we are.

Louie Garrett Trade

Ok now moving on to two recent blockbuster trades that will have lasting effects on the future (and present state) of the franchise. November of last year, Dan brought in a bonafide superstar in Louie Garrett. He traded away Cam Oullette, Aaron Freakin Rome, and two 1sts that turned into Espen Knutsen JR and Jerry Mander for him. All worth it though, as @dizzyDC has been an incredible player and person to share a LR with.

Liam O'Callaghan Trade

One month before the Garrett trade, we brought in defender Liam O'Callaghan for pennies on the dollar. @Dangles13 is one of my favorite members and was thrilled when he was saved from the Seattle franchise. Dan paid a 1st rounder (Nolan Sawchuk) and a 3rd rounder (Siobhan Ryleigh) in the Season 45 draft.

WELL WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON?

I would absolutely love to do a complete recap of all 38 seasons (jfc can you imagine?), but sadly all indexes prior to S43 have been scrubbed & lost entirely (or at least from what I can tell... thank heavens). So instead, we'll be taking a look at the most recent history of the Renegades & take a deeper look into the future and what lies ahead as the SHL is on the cusp of reaching it's 50th season. It's been 12 seasons since the last Challenge Cup was raised in the Lone Star state, is Texas' 5th cup finally on the horizon? Let's recap the past five seasons and what's been going on:

Season 42

Coming fresh off a season that saw Texas at the lowest point of their rebuild, finished nearly dead last in the league, they needed to make an impact at the draft and start trending in the upwards direction. Selecting at 3rd overall, they chose highly touted defender Harvey Danger (@hockeyfan). Having been selected behind obvious choices in Rafe Ulrich and Herb Roberts, Danger was all but the definite 3rd overall selection heading into draft day. Texas was not to pick again, however, they made a trade once they realized forward Noah Konn was falling down the draft board. They moved swiftly and chose the power forward at 10th overall, leapfrogging Hamilton to make the selection.

Sadly, with the recent change of servers, there are no more in-depth records of S42.

Season 43

As frustration and impatience started to build and ferment, Texas headed into their next draft with eyes & ears wide open on the prowl to make moves if necessary. Their first choice was at the 9th position, where they selected defender Kiko Rytmeyr. Kiko had all the makings of a franchise defenseman from the start and @dankoa wasted no time making the selection when Texas was on the clock. However, this decision turned disastrous as just a few short weeks later he decided to retire. Also in the draft, Texas was able to snag Kevin Kazarian, Vlad Konstantin and Liam Ofer.

Although their draft seemed to be successful, the regular season once again proved to be a disappointment for the still-evolving Renegades. They missed out of the playoffs in the waning days of the season, missing the cutoff by a mere 3 points and just on the heels of the Calgary Dragons. There were many bright spots on the team, however, as their defensive corps really took the bulk of the offensive load. The Dude (@Dude) emerged as one of the league's elite defenders, posting 45 points to go along with 70 blocked shots and 101 hits. Aging defender Brynjar Tusk followed suit with an equal 45 points to match. Texas' offense was led by Logan Jensen (@Loganjj21) who potted 17 goals on his way to a career-best 42 points on the Renegades top line.

The biggest & most noticible surprise was in net, however. Walter Hobbs (@Jearim) had recently taken over the starting position and posted a very respectable 22-18-3 record, including one shutout. It seemed as if the young Hobbs was on the brink of stardom.

Season 44

Into the draft once again having sat on the outside of a playoff position, Texas he one player in particular to snag at the 6th overall spot and they did exactly that. Chuck Crutchfield was taken without hesitation, as he would eventually take over the role as co-GM of the Renegades. In the second round, they were also able to grab Stolp Skottson and Keegan Angello, some depth players down the line.

It was an up & down season for the Renegades, seemingly losing just as many games as they won. They went on a great early to mid season stretch that saw they climb near the top of the league, but that all came crashing down at season's end as they, once again, missed the playoffs by the cursed three points. However, they did acquire elite forward Louie Garrett towards the end of the season to try & make a push for the post-season. He would remain on board and post 18 points in his first 15 games with the Renegades. Followed by Owen, O'Callaghan and Horvat in points, it seemed as if the problem was with defense and NOT offense for the struggling Texas team.

Season 45

Texas leapt into action at the Season 45 draft, now having two picks inside the top 10 (2nd and 6th), looking to solidify their future for the absolute long term. At 2nd they grabbed Andreas Kvalheim (@raymond3000), an easy & noticable pillar for the future of the Renegades. At 6th, they somehow managed to grab Nicholas Fleming, completing an excellent first round for Texas. In later rounds, they also drafted Jimmy Cahill.

Was it finally time for Texas to re-join the ranks of elite teams? You're damn right. The Renegades exploded onto the scene in Season 45, finishing with 67 points and a record of 32-15-3, good for second in the league just behind the stacked Edmonton Blizzard. Newly acquired Louise Garrett captured the scoring title with 65 points in 50 games and goaltender Walter Hobbs found himself a nomination for goaltender of the year, after a blistering 27-12-3 record. Iam Essellemm (@iamslm22) nearly won the goal title as well, emerging as a potent sniper.

In the playoffs, they made quick work of the Winnipeg Jets, sweeping and outscoring them 15-8. Next up, they faced the worst possible scenario in the Edmonton Blizzard. It was a tremendous matchup of the league's top powerhouses. The series went to Game 7, and in the end, Edmonton emerged victorious with an overtime victory. It was arguably one of the closest matchup's in recent playoff memory, with Texas scoring 22 goals and Edmonton scoring 20.

Season 46

The playoff drought was over, as a collective sigh of relief could be heard throughout the state of Texas. Work was not over, however, as the draft rapidly approached. The Renegades had no picks in the first two rounds through trades that brought them elite players (Louie Garrett, Liam O'Callaghan) but managed to grab a fantastic talent in Tyler Tougard late in the 3rd round.

The bar was set and expectations were high heading into the regular season, having nearly toppled the Blizzard (extreme cup favorites at the time). However, Texas stumbled heavily out of the gate, putting up an embarrassing 3-7 record to start the season. Much like Season 44, it seemed as if they weren't able to catch up in the Win column until late in the season. Texas had played their luck too close to the edge, as they tied with the Calgary Dragons with 53 points at season's end but lost the tiebreaker (ROW) 22-20. It was a back-breaker for the Renegades, as all signs pointed to them finally entering dynasty mode. Their core of Garrett/Jensen/Dude/Essellemm led the way in scoring.

Season 47

After the emotional roller coaster that was the off-season following the narrow playoff miss, Texas once again found themselves without a draft pick in the first two rounds. They were able to snag two players late in the draft in Alexander Andersson-Grade and Josef Kubinec. Andersson-Grade played very well between the pipes HOWEVER he decided to retire not too long after the draft, yet another blow to the Renegades. Luckily, Walter Hobbs has remained their franchise goalie heading into the future.

Players and management alike were determined to right-the-ship after last season's collapse, and they came out swinging. By the mid-way point of Season 47, Texas sat atop the league and was poised for more post-season action. They ended the regular season with a 4 game losing streak but still managed to cruise into the playoffs with 53 points, good for 3rd in the Western Conference. Scoring was led, again, by Louie Garrett. The Dude had an off-season with just 32 points in 50 games, but O'Callaghan took the reins and tallied an incredible 47 to pick up the pace. Daniel Karlsson made a switch from defense to cover a lack of depth down the middle, and it paid dividends to the tune of 38 points.

In the playoffs & somewhat relieved, Texas faced a Pride team also looking to make a name for themselves. No problem though, as San Francisco was pummelled in the first two games as the Renegades piled up 12 goals in the first six periods. It was quick work, and the Pride were disposed of in 5 games. Next up were the New Orleans Specters, a remarkably stacked expansion team from a season ago looking for their first cup. They were (and still are) a formidable force. Much like the Edmonton Blizzard, they forced seven games but to no avail, as Texas battled back from a 2-3 deficit in the series to make the Western Finals. They matched up against the Calgary Dragons, who sadly made quick work of the Renegades. Although no Challenge Cup this season for Texas, it's widely considered a successful season given their previous struggles.

Season 48

Another season in the books and another draft turns the corner for Texas. Not in any desperate need for a particular position, Paraig Sarantez (@EuroCap) was picked at the 13th spot in the first round. They also restocked their prospect pool this draft, landing several depth players in the deeper rounds (Patrick Neiderreiter, Haley Knight, Cuthbert Coppercorn).

Season 46 saw a wildly successful campaign in Season 45 go completely to waste, as they missed the playoffs entirely. Will Season 48 prove to be the same for the Renegades or can they finally string together back-to-back playoff appearances? Well, the first half was a major letdown as the Renegades went on an abysmal 10-13-2 run, finding themselves tied for second to last in the entire league at the mid-way point of the season. However, what a yikes the remainder of the season turned out to be, as a tremendous slide left the Renegades well out of playoff position, forcing them to trade away Louie Garrett to the Buffalo Stampede. This sealed the fate for Texas, as they received Minnesota's 1st rounder along with prospect Josh Driver (@jblock3) and Samuel Jalopski (@ThatDamnWalrus) in the transaction. If nothing else, they at least enter the off-season holding two lottery picks, guarenteed two elite prospects.

[Image: 800px-Dallas-Skyline-with-Arts-District.jpg]

PROSPECTS & THE FUTURE

Looking deeper into the future of the Renegades, despite recent successes and failures, there seems to be plenty of hope moving towards Season 49 and beyond. Here are a few of the top young players that Texas boasts:

LW - Andreas Kvalheim (S45)
TPE: 937

Starting with a couple of players already lacing them up with the Texas, Kvalheim is quicking rising to the ranks of being an elite talent. Drafted just four seasons ago, Andreas has already found himself a home within the top six of Texas' high octane offense. He bolstered a solid [STATS HERE] in 50 games this season, a spectacular jumping-off point heading into Season 49. Renegades are very deep on wing talent (Essellemm, Konn, Konstantin, Tougard) but Kvalheim should have no issue holding his own going forward.

RW - Tyler Tougard (S46)
TPE: 638

Three seasons past his draft year, top tier prospect Tyler Tougard finally suited up for his rookie season. While only notching [STATS HERE], he was ever-present in the locker roo and well respected. @Durden also lays claim to one of, if not THE best Renegade of all time in Jack Durden. So, it's no surprise that Texas will be his own for the foreseeable future.

LW - Josef Kubinec (S47)
TPE: 413

Moving on to a few prospects still developing in the minors and will likely see SHL action in the near future, paving the way for future championships. Josef Kubinec brings up the rear of a large locomotive of elite talent on the wings. Drafted in the late rounds of his draft year, Josef may very well turn into one of the best steals of his class. Playing top minutes for the Halifax Raiders in the SMJHL, he put up [STATS HERE]... helping them [SOMETHING HERE.]

D - Padraig Sarantez (S48)
TPE: 342

The first of two defensive prospects comes from the Montreal Militia farm team. Padraig Sarantez is the son of SHL legend and Hall of Famer, Pedro Sarantez, and will look to follow in his father's footsteps but this time on the blueline. Sarantez fills in the top pair for the Militia and is relied on heavily. While nor producing elite offensive numbers, he's considered one of the best defensive-defenders NOT currently in the SHL.

D - Haley Knight (S48)
TPE: 270

Also selected late in her draft, Haley Knight is developing slowly into an all-around defender. Playing on the top unit for the Halifax Raiders, Knight is used in a myriad of situations from the PP, to the PK, or just logging huge chunks of ice time 5-on-5. In addition to being a shot-blocking machine, she puts up points & can throw the body when needed.

G - Patrick Niederreiter (S48)
TPE: 293

It's hard to envision anyone else between the Texas pipes other than Walter Hobbs, but Niederreiter may prove to be the long-term solution for the Renegades. Having already won the SMJHL Championship with the Anaheim Outlaws, Patrick provides a sense of stability and calmness for the team currently sitting as their #2.

?? - TheNext Draftees (S49)
TPE: Plenty

And what a draft it will be. After a hard decision made by management this season, Texas now holds two lottery picks heading into the S49 Draft and hope to restock their pool of prospects with fresh elite ones. Stay tuned to see how well they fare in the coming weeks.

Thank you for reading if you made it this far, or if you just scrolled down to this. Either way, you clicked on it and I thank you for that. As always, Go Renegades.

Code:
Words: 3,200+ and a ton of research.

***luke*** · 07-11-2019, 07:58 PM

oh hey NJ, ill message you later

EuroCap · 07-11-2019, 08:11 PM

read this instead

Leoben · 07-11-2019, 08:23 PM

Fun read and thanks for the shout-out. Looking forward to playing for Texas some day. I'll keep doing my thing until then.

Renegades

Jearim · 07-11-2019, 09:50 PM

HELL YA NJ!!!

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Slowpoke · 07-11-2019, 10:03 PM

I like this.

Slappydoodle · 07-11-2019, 10:35 PM

Nice job bro, well done

Whikadoodle · 07-11-2019, 10:49 PM

This is great

hockeyfan · 07-11-2019, 11:40 PM

The real first overall pick of S42, and our hearts, was you <3

dankoa · 07-12-2019, 04:15 AM

Stuff like this is great, really appreciate the work for the team man

wumaduce · 07-12-2019, 05:41 AM

Great writeup man. The most wholesome team in the league.

dizzyDC · 07-14-2019, 05:47 PM

I will always have fond memories of my time in Texas. Excellent organization and even more excellent people.

**OrbitingDeath** · 07-26-2019, 08:10 AM

@NJBadApple

Small error in your article, I never played for Texas myself, but at that moment I 'signed' Perhonen to my agency, so I was acting as his agent only Smile

So if you want to credit someone , it's @HabsFanFromOntario who deserves the credit there Smile

HabsFanFromOntario · 08-01-2019, 05:25 PM

07-26-2019, 08:10 AMOrbitingDeath Wrote: @NJBadApple

Small error in your article, I never played for Texas myself, but at that moment I 'signed' Perhonen to my agency, so I was acting as his agent only
So if you want to credit someone , it's @HabsFanFromOntario who deserves the credit there

Wait... what?

**OrbitingDeath** · 08-01-2019, 05:28 PM

08-01-2019, 05:25 PMHabsFanFromOntario Wrote:
07-26-2019, 08:10 AMOrbitingDeath Wrote: @NJBadApple

Small error in your article, I never played for Texas myself, but at that moment I 'signed' Perhonen to my agency, so I was acting as his agent only
So if you want to credit someone , it's @HabsFanFromOntario who deserves the credit there

Wait... what?

He said i played for texas but that wasnt true, since it was you. I acted as your agent back then to get you as much money as possible. Its from like 6 years back or so

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