RENEGADES NOTES

Lighter schedule helping

Since the Richmond Renegades played more games than anyone in the Southern Professional Hockey League during the first two-thirds of the season, they've gotten a bit of a break down the stretch.

Can playing two games on a weekend instead of three, for example, be beneficial over the final month of the season?

"It helps us for sure. Gives us a chance to get a little healthy," said Richmond coach Brian Goudie. "Gives us a little more practice time, where we can get sharper on things. Not having to play three in three nights all the time helps with the wear and tear on you."

The extra time off appeared to benefit the Renegades (27-21-2) over the weekend, when they came from behind twice in as many nights to beat Huntsville 7-5 and Knoxville 5-4 in a shootout on the road.

"Leaving the day before was a big boost, too," Goudie said of traveling to Huntsville on Thursday for the Friday faceoff. "They [Huntsville] had to go on the road the night we got in, so we were sitting there waiting for them. The same thing will happen this weekend."

The Renegades will leave at midnight tomorrow for Columbus, Ga., where they'll meet the Cottonmouths on Friday and Saturday nights to continue their eight-game road swing. Columbus has a Thursday night date at first-place Knoxville.

"That sets the stage for us, but we still have to go out and play 60 minutes," Goudie said.

Ronan stops sibling

Goaltender Mike Ronan showed Goudie and his teammates that his seven-goal outing against Twin City on Feb. 6 wasn't up to his usual standards, and got a win against his former teammates in the process.

Ronan, who was obtained in a trade with Huntsville in late January, relieved Ryan Scott late in the first period and gave up two goals the rest of the way.

"It was a blast," said Ronan. "You don't think about it when you're on the ice. But after the game and before the game, you talk to the guys on the other team. We wound up winning, so that makes it a lot better."

Ronan's older brother, John, is a forward for the Havoc. It marked the first time they had competed against each other in a "real" game. The elder Ronan tested his brother with a shot on one occasion.

"He got one toward the end of the third period," said Mike Ronan. "He got set up in the slot [during a power play]. It was a good shot. Could have tied the game, but I stopped him."

Of his self-described "disaster" against Twin City, Ronan said, "When you come to a new team, and that was only my second game here, you don't want the guys thinking that's normal, giving up seven goals. So it was important when I got the chance to come back in, I wanted to play good."

Karasiewicz honored

Center Trevor Karasiewicz was named SPHL player of the week after being instrumental in Richmond's two wins. In the victory over Huntsville, Karasiewicz contributed a goal and four assists. He scored two power-play goals and added one assist in the Knoxville game.

The Renegades released forward Kyu Kim on Saturday, when injured Bill Zalba was able to return to the lineup.

--John Packett