The Richmond Renegades were a professional ice hockey team in Richmond, Virginia that played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1990 until 2003. The Renegades played at the Richmond Coliseum, which they marketed in later years as the Freezer.
The Renegades folded in 2003, but were succeeded by the Richmond RiverDogs of the United Hockey League.
History
In their 13 seasons, the Renegades won the Riley Cup as league champion in the 1994âÂÂ95 season, the Brabham Cup in 1995âÂÂ96 as regular season champion, and the Northern Conference championship in 1998âÂÂ99. In the 1999 Kelly Cup Finals they blew a 3âÂÂ1 series lead to the Mississippi Sea Wolves. The Renegades' rivals for most of their existence were the Hampton Roads Admirals, based in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Richmond Renegades name was revived by a new SPHL franchise that played from 2006âÂÂ2009, owned by original ECHL Renegades owner Allan Harvie.
Allan Harvie founded the team, which he sold to Elmore Sports Group in 1993. The team was then sold, in 1994, to CCF Sports Group, an investment group owned by bankers, Joe Carney, Brian Cohn and Harry Feuerstein. The team folded in 2003.
Playoffs
- 1990âÂÂ91: Lost to Hampton Roads 3âÂÂ1 in quarterfinals.
- 1991âÂÂ92: Defeated Winston-Salem 3âÂÂ2 in first round; lost to Hampton Roads 2âÂÂ0 in quarterfinals.
- 1992âÂÂ93: Lost to Johnstown 1âÂÂ0 in first round.
- 1993âÂÂ94: Did not qualify
- 1994âÂÂ95: Defeated Columbus 3âÂÂ0 in first round; defeated Roanoke 3âÂÂ1 in quarterfinals; defeated Tallahassee 3âÂÂ2 in semifinals; defeated Greensboro 4âÂÂ1 to win championship.
- 1995âÂÂ96: Defeated Hampton Roads 3âÂÂ0 in first round; lost to Jacksonville 3âÂÂ1 in quarterfinals.
- 1996âÂÂ97: Defeated Dayton 3âÂÂ1 in first round; lost to Peoria 3âÂÂ1 in quarterfinals.
- 1997âÂÂ98: Did not qualify.
- 1998âÂÂ99: Defeated Hampton Roads 3âÂÂ1 in first round; defeated Toledo 3âÂÂ0 in quarterfinals; defeated Roanoke 4âÂÂ0 in semifinals; lost to Mississippi 4âÂÂ3 in finals.
- 1999âÂÂ00: Lost to Trenton 3âÂÂ0 in first round.
- 2000âÂÂ01: Lost to Peoria 3âÂÂ1 in first round.
- 2001âÂÂ02: Did not qualify.
- 2002âÂÂ03: Did not qualify.
Notable personnel
- Krys Barch â played for Renegades in 2001âÂÂ02. He went on to play over 300 games in the National Hockey League with the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, and New Jersey Devils.
- Frank Bialowas â played for Renegades in 1992âÂÂ93. Bialowas later played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1993âÂÂ94.
- Andy Bezeau â played for Renegades in 1991âÂÂ92. Later recorded the second highest penalty minute total in IHL history (590 PIM) during the 1995âÂÂ96 season as a member of the Fort Wayne Komets.
- Brad Church â former Washington Capitals first round draft pick in 1995, 17th overall. Church would play for the Renegades from 2001 to 2003 and would later go on to coach the Phoenix Roadrunners of the ECHL.
- Trevor Jobe â former ECHL record holder for most goals scored and most points scored. He played 34 games as a member of the Renegades during the 1991âÂÂ92 ECHL season.
- Ryan Kraft â former Sharks draft pick spent two seasons with the Renegades (1998âÂÂ2000) and would later play seven games with the Sharks during the 2002âÂÂ03 season.
- Rod Langway â Stanley Cup-winning, Hall Of Fame defenseman who briefly came out of retirement in 1995 after a sixteen-year NHL career where he skated for the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals. Langway joined the team late in the season and played 6 regular season games along with 9 post season games. Langway would later become a familiar sight on the bench, as he joined the team as an assistant coach the following season, and would later come back to help as an assistant coach from 1998 to 2000.
- Rod Taylor â The long-time Hampton Roads Admirals forward joined the team in 2000 after the Admirals suspended ECHL operations and became home to an AHL team. Taylor broke the ECHL goal-scoring record that was once held by former Renegade Trevor Jobe on December 29, 2000.
- Manny Legace - Played for the Renegades during the 1996-97 season. He played for many teams throughout his NHL career, including the Los Angeles Kings and the Detroit Red Wings, the latter of whom he won a Stanley Cup with in 2002. Towards the end of his career, he played for the St. Louis Blues and Carolina Hurricanes. Legace currently serves as the goaltending coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
References
External links