Login

dankoa · 02-18-2023, 08:00 AM

For the first of my deep dives, I thought it would be interesting to go back and look at the last team I played on to win a Challenge Cup. In my time in the SHL, I've been fortunate enough to win a ring on two occasions, and the most recent of them stands out in my head very strongly as it was the culmination of a fairly lengthy rebuild which saw the team undergo a very painful few seasons as the losses mounted up. It was my last season in Texas, but it was a happy one as I was able to see a team that I'd been lucky enough to put together through the draft and trades for the most part take the final step, as it flourished under one of the SHL's greatest ever coaches in Puolivalmiste.

The S59 regular season saw the Renegades put together their best record in a long time, finishing as the best team in the Western Conference with a very impressive 49 wins and 100 points. The recent addition of goaltender Cillian Kavanagh had given the team a very solid 1-2 punch in goal, and it paid off with the sterling numbers that both he and White Goodman put up playing a huge part in their regular season success. Andreas Kvalheim, undoubtedly the greatest ever player to don the black and silver of the Renegades, also played a huge part in their success, posting a highly impressive 71 points on the season to lead the team, but it was perhaps Alexander Wachter who had the most crucial role to play, posting 71 points also along with 32 vital goals.

Their regular season record sent the Renegades into the playoffs as the third seed, giving them a first round match up against the Seattle Argonauts. Those of you who have more recently joined the league will know Seattle as one of the SHL's dominant powers, but this was a long time before their back to back championships, a handful of seasons after they had joined the league as an expansion team. Most commentators expected the Renegades to move past the Argonauts with some ease and they weren't to be disappointed, as Texas swept them aside in 4 games.

From here, things were set to get very difficult, as the Renegades shaped up to face perhaps the most intimidating team in the league, the Hamilton Steelhawks. Having won an incredible number of championship in the preceding years, their success was unmatched and they represented without a doubt the greatest dynasty in the history of the league. The Renegades knew it would be a tough challenge, and every game felt like a hard fought battle. The teams swapped back and forth wins in the first four games to tie the series at 2-2, but Hamilton won Game 5 in overtime to sneak in front. At this point, everyone had written it off as yet another season of dominant victory for the Steelhawks, but the Renegades were determined to show that it wasn't over until it was truly over. They came out all guns blazing in Game 6 and stunned Hamilton, thrashing them 5-1 and sending the series to a Game 7 for all the marbles. Perhaps the method of losing had a signifiant effect on Hamilton, for when it came to Game 7 they managed to fluff their lines even worse than in Game 6, getting stunned in a 6-1 loss at home to a Renegades team that had truly found its swagger. These back to back demolition jobs of the most favoured team in the SHL really made the hockey world sit up and take notice of the Renegades, with people truly believing that this might be their season.

The finals were set up against Buffalo, who although not as dominant as Hamilton had still been a very successful team over the last few years and were considered superior to the Renegades by most. Funnily enough, the series turned out to be very straightforward for Texas, beating Buffalo in 5 games and securing the Challenge Cup. Perhaps the two games they closed the Hamilton series with got into Buffalo's psyche, or perhaps they were just a more talented or better coached team, but the Renegades did what few had expected them to do. Nearly 25 seasons had passed between the Renegades last cup win and this one, and it was truly a moment to savour for one of the greatest franchises the league has ever seen.

Code:
752 words

*CptSquall* · 02-18-2023, 01:54 PM

Approved, +5 TPE to @dankoa

Navigation

Extra Menu

About us