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Operation Ivy · 12-15-2023, 10:33 PM

It is hard to believe that we are already more than halfway through the Season 74 SHL regular season. In Texas, a group of hungry Renegades spent the off season preparing for this season to be one where they make that jump into true contention after years of being on the cusp. Just over the halfway point, Texas seems to be proving that their hard work and high expectations are paying off, as they currently sit 1st place in the entire league with a record of 28-5-2 for 58 points. There is certainly a lot of hockey left in the season, but for now, it looks as though Texas will be a team to beat come playoff time.

In today's article, we will give out a report card for this Texas team and grade different aspects of the team to this point in the season.

Offense
Letter grade: B+
Analysis: The Texas offense has had a nice season to this point. The team has scored 176 goals in 35 games (5.03 per game); good for 6th in the league. Centerman David-Arturri Donskoi is leading the way. Donskoi leads Texas in goals (28) and points (55). The "newer" veterans are adjusting well to Texas. Veterans Ty Murphy and Petr Svoboda, both in their first seasons as Renegades, are 2nd and 4th on the team in points. Center Videl Valor, in his second season with Texas, is currently 3rd on the team in points. With veterans leading the charge, it has allowed the younger forwards in Texas to thrive in depth roles while still getting solid minutes each night. Pawter Meowski and Marton Diehm, two players entering their primes, are above point per game players. Young forwards Patrice Bergeron, Tiberius Kane, and James Dion, all of whom were drafted by Texas in Season 69, have added great scoring depth for Texas as they all are currently above point per game players. Star defenseman Dirty Boots has been the lone defender for Texas even near point per game, as he currently sits at 10 goals and 24 assists. The 34 points on the season puts Boots at number 6 amongst all SHL defenseman.

While Texas may lack a true top of the SHL leading scorer at the moment, it is very apparent that this team has depth and scoring ability on all of their lines. With every single forward at over a point per game on the season, this is a forward core that can roll out any line combination and expect goals. The Renegades may hope to finish the league with more goals for, but they will gladly take this continued depth scoring into the playoffs.

Defense
Letter grade: A
Analysis: For several seasons now, scouts around the league anticipated that Texas' blue line may become one of the best in the SHL. So far this season, the defense has been a major strength of this Renegades team. On the season, Texas has allowed 93 goals in 35 games (2.66 per game); which puts them 3rd in the league for goals against. Offensively led on the blue line by the aforementioned veteran and star Renegade, Dirty Boots, many of the other top line defenseman in Texas are defensive defensemen. Fan favorite Hodor has established himself as the ultimate shot blocker in the SHL, as he currently leads the league with 175 shots blocked. Hodor will annually find himself in the conversation, and potentially the for the SHL's best defensive defenseman award. Chris Valentine, now in his fourth SHL season, is right up there with Hodor as the best defensive player on the Renegades as he sits second on the team in shots blocked with 103, while also currently sitting at a +/- of 32. The depth on the blue line for Texas has showed up this season. Newly acquired Alexander Minaj has been a solid defensive and offensive contributor. Jack McCarthy has been able to contribute on the lower lines for Texas defensively, as he looks to set career bests across the board in his third SHL season. Perhaps most important for Texas' defenseman is that every defender currently has 9 or less givewaways, while also each having 20 or more takeaways.

Texas' blue line is lacking multiple goal/point scorers from their defenseman, but the depth and defensive soundness is certainly there at all lines. The defense was expected to be a strength of this team, and so far this season the defense in Texas has showed up.

Goaltending
Letter grade: A
Analysis: When you are third in the league in goals against, it has to mean that both defense and goaltending are playing at a high level. That has certainly been the case in Texas, where goaltending has been stellar through 35 games of the season. Star goaltender Anthony Dionne leads the way. Dionne, the highest TPE player on the Renegades and soon to be member of the 2,000 TPE club, currently holds a record of 21-4-2 with a 2.81 goals against average and a 0.905 save percentage. Most notably with Dionne's stats is that he never has an easy night. Dionne is the Renegades goaltender for every important game and against the SHL's best. His record, along with solid goals against and save percentage, has solidified Dionne as one of hte leagues best netminders. One goalie can't play in every game though, and a pleasant surprise for Texas this season has been backup Sea Jebus. Jebus holds a 7-1-0 record on the season, with a 1.90 goals against average and a 0.926 save percentage. The goals against average and save percentage for Jebus are currently the best in the SHL. Jebus will typically handle goaltending duties when the Renegades play a team lower in the standing which has certainly boosted these numbers, but Texas feels completely comfortable letting Jebus take the wheel on Dionne's nights off.

Special Teams
Letter grade: B
Analysis: Texas' powerplay has not been a strength of theirs this season. The Renegades are currently hitting on 22.3%, putting them in the bottom half in the league at 12th. Despite having all forwards as over point per game players, this is an area that Texas will look to improve in the second half of the season as they prepare for the playoffs.

While the Renegades powerplay has been a weakness of theirs this season, the powerplay has been a strength. Texas currently holds the third best penalty kill in the SHL with an 84.7% of penalties killed so far this season. As mentioned above, defense has been solid this season and the Renegades combination of two-way forwards and defensive defenseman has allowed them to be one of the leagues best while down a man.

There have been a lot of positives so far this season for the Texas Renegades. While firing on all cylinders, this group of young players and veterans will look to finish out the second half of the season in the same spot they are at this point, with aspirations to be the SHL's best team in the regular season. Of course, that will not mean too much if they can't advance in the playoffs. After back to back seasons of a first round exit, this Texas group believes they have the talent and chemistry to finally make that run.