Renegades provide Rio Rancho hockey fix

Rio Rancho (KRQE) - It's not the caliber of hockey played by the New Mexico Scorpions, but while the Scorps take this hockey season off the New Mexico Renegades junior hockey team has taken their place, sort of.

The Renegades are made up of 17- to 20-year-old hockey players from New Mexico and surrounding states with aspirations of one day playing college or even professional hockey.

The Renegades play in the Western States Hockey League and are coached by former Scorpions player Peter Ambroziak, who also spent some time in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres.

Ambroziak has taken over a hockey team that was based in Richland Hills, Texas, last season. Ambroziak decided to move it to Rio Rancho to keep hockey alive in New Mexico.

"I really didn't know much about the league, and then I went and watched a game in El Paso," Ambroziak said. "And I thought this would be a great idea to build a youth program underneath it and hopefully give our youth hockey players in New Mexico a chance to play junior hockey.

"You get to see these young kids and teach them new things and bring it on the ice and develop them as individuals it's a great feeling."

The Renegades are off to a slow start with a 1-11 record. However Ambroziak has recognized that he is building a hockey program from virtually the ground up.

Ambroziak's 17 years as a professional hockey player and another six as a professional hockey assistant coach have started to rub off on his players.

"Just seeing when he skates with us, how he handles himself, and he knows what he's talking about," Renegades power forward Daren Glover said.

"He's played at the highest level, and I want to get to the highest possible level as well," added defenseman John Connolly. "He's a great role model to have."

The Renegades play their home games at Blades Multiplex in Rio Rancho where they will host the El Paso Rhinos on Saturday.