To Renegades head coach Jason Murrell, success should be measured by his side’s improvement over the season.
From their first game to their last in the 1660 hockey league, the Renegades have shown steady progress.
It has been reflected in the results, with single goal losses earlier in the season being replaced by single goal wins.
Whatever the magic ingredient is that determines victory in those edge-of-the-seat encounters, the Renegades were finding it. Perhaps it is just belief.
For Murrell and other members of the coaching staff, it meant there were reasons for satisfaction as they reflected on the year, which culminated with the Renegades holding aloft the Tier 4 consolation banner.
“Our team started off the year with high expectations of having a successful year,” said Murrell. “Now that the year is coming to a close, I can say it was exactly that.
“As coaches we talked the other day about how much our players had improved over this year. To us that is success.”
Murrell said the seven teams in Tier 4 of 1660 were very well balanced.
“Any team could have won any night,” he said. “We lost a number of games by a single goal early in the year. By the end of the year we had a few ties and were finding a way to win those one goal games.”
The Renegades finished fifth in the league standings, going up against Leduc in the first round of playoffs.
“As through the rest of the year, the two game total points was close and ended up tied, with overtime and a shootout required to decide the outcome,” Murrell said. “Unfortunately we did not come out on top.”
Renegades then played a consolation round with Westlock and Riviere Qui Barre.
It ended up being a best-of-five series against Riviere Qui Barre, which the Renegades won 3-1.
To cap off the Renegades’ year they played a tournament last weekend in Millet, which promised to be a lot of fun.
Murrell thanked all those involved in the Renegades’ campaign this season.
“Thanks to all the coaches, parents, manager, and last but not least the players, for all the effort and commitment it takes to come together as a team,” he said.
