Ice Raiders' Dominance Over SD Renegades Continues with Sweep
By Phillip Goodman
October 19, 2026
The Reno Ice Raiders remain undefeated against the San Diego Renegades after sweeping the '26-'27 season opening series presented by Cure Biomedical. With their 8-3 victory on Friday and 7-1 win on Saturday, Reno has won all eight tilts versus San Diego at The Jennifer M. O’Neal Community Ice Arena. In the process, Reno has outscored SD 47-10, allowed only one power play goal in 35 attempts (97.1%), and converted nine of 29 power plays (31.0%).
The evening began with an epic ceremony celebrating the Ice Raiders’ Clear Cup championship. That was followed by a tribute to Kane the wolf dog who crossed the rainbow bridge in September. Ice Raiders' ironman Jeff Jiron gave a moving tribute to his lost 14-year best friend followed by a '"moment of howling" in observance of the Ice Raiders' team pet.
Reno peppered Renegade tender Vince Sorgentoni with 14 shots in the first 15 minutes. Rob Hallowell‘s wrister got the scoring started with four and a half minutes to go. Tony Tyrell and Roger Hutchison assisted on the play. Twenty-eight seconds later, Andrew Peterson fired a shot from the right point that trickled through Sorgentoni's elbow and Johnny Garrity made the easy tap-in for the two-nothing lead.
Two minutes into the second period San Diego snuck one past Sand on a partial breakaway.
A minute and a half later Adam Barba caught Sorgentoni on the wrong side of the post and lifted one under the bar pushing the lead back to 3-1.
With a Renegade in the box for a delay of game penalty, Jake Minton handed the puck to Johnny Garrity who whipped a no-look backhand pass to a wide open Hunter Sine for the Ovechkin-esque one timer and 4-1 lead.
Less than a minute later, Matt Pederson slammed home Jeff Jiron's rebound for the 5-1 lead. San Diego caught the Ice Raiders' defense out of position leaving Cole Diamond all alone in the slot for a wrister that beat Sand with nine ticks left in the period and cut the lead to 5-2 after 40 minutes to play.
Reno responded in the third with three straight goals by newcomer Tyler Hanson, Nathan Hogge, and Will McDonnell. Matt DeMoulpied's goal with four minutes left was too little too late for San Diego.
Reno rolled four lines and everyone got into the point party. The Ice Raiders offensive production included: seven with two-point nights, eight different goal scorers, and six more with one assist.
"We have four really deep lines and four evenly spread out lines," said Assistant Captain Johnny Garrity. "We're lucky to have that kind of depth, and same thing on defense. We've built a good roster in depth from top to bottom all the way down to the goalies. That's good to have."
Justin Sand stopped 13 of 16 shots for his ninth consecutive win at Reno Ice. Sorgentoni allowed 8 goals on 42 Ice Raider shots. Sorgentoni has never beaten Reno as a Renegade nor a Sin City King.
Jake "Minty Fresh" Minton started the scoring three minutes in on a Brewer's Cabinet Power Play. He pounded a one timer past Dave Rosefield on a great setup from behind the net by Garrity and Sine.
With the Renegades attacking in the Reno end, Weston Nash kicked a San Diego shot attempt to Will McDonnell who backhand shoveled a breakaway pass for Charlie Montgomery, who rifled it off the right post and in for the two-nothing lead.
Before the fans could even calm down, Roger Hutchison buried another one 27 seconds later assisted by Alex Gunnoe.
Hutchison tallied his second by redirecting Adam Barba‘s left circle shot for the 4-0 lead after only 20 minutes of play.
Johnny Garrity punched in the Ice Raiders second power-play goal four minutes into the second period on a two-man advantage.
Four minutes later, Jake Minton pushed the puck forward on an offensive zone draw, picked up the puck behind the net and scored the wraparound with Rosefield out of position for the 6-0 lead.
Matt Robinson's wrist shot from the right circle deflected off a Renegade stick directly to Weston Nash for a wide open putback and 7-0 lead with 24 minutes to play in the night. Rosefield was lifted for Sorgentoni in the third and shut down Reno the rest of the way.
Justis Gyori was 79 seconds away from his own shutout until Peter Hanbury slipped through two Reno defenders and flicked a shot under the crossbar for the 7-1 final.
Reno's offense again was evenly balanced with five goal scorers and 11 point producers.
"Oh man it's just next level," said Jake Minton of Reno's offensive firepower. "Everyone on the ice knows where everyone's going to be. It's just a lot of fun with a great group of guys. I really wouldn't want to play with anybody else."
Friday Nov. 6 and Sat. Nov. 7 will be the salute to service weekend. The Ice Raiders will take on the Southwest Outlaws, formerly known as the Sin City Kings. For that series be presented by BJ's Nevada BBQ the players will don special jerseys for auction to benefit a local military charity. Tickets will go on sale on Halloween at 11am.
Friday's LT Automotive Three Stars of the Game
Adam Barba - 1G, 1A
Johnny Garrity - 1G, 1A
Tyler Hanson - 1G
Honorary 4th Star: Kane the Wolf Dog - RIP Kaner
Friday's Nevada Retina Associates Ice Raiders' Game Stats
1-for-1 on the Brewer's Cabinet Power Play
6-for-6 on Peterson Wealth Management Penalty Kills
Reno won 33 of 61 draws (54.1%)
Shots on goal: Reno 42, San Diego 16
Reno's Point scorers
Johnny Garrity - 1G, 1A
Adam Barba - 1G, 1A
Will McDonnell - 1G, 1A
Nathan Hogge - 1G
Rob Hallowell - 1G
Tyler Hanson - 1G
Matt Pederson - 1G
Hunter Sine - 1G
Jake Minton - 2A
Alex Gunnoe - 2A
Roger Hutchison - 2A
Andrew Peterson - 2A
Jake Minton - 2A
Weston Nash - 1A
Julian Herrera - 1A
Wil Gauthier - 1A
Charlie Montgomery - 1A
Tony Tyrell - 1A
Saturday's LT Automotive Three Stars of the Game
Jake Minton - 2G
Weston Nash - 1G, 1A
Justis Gyori - 22 saves
Saturday's Nevada Retina Associates Ice Raiders' Stats
2-for-7 on the Brewer's Cabinet Power Play
2-for-2 on Peterson Wealth Management Penalty Kills
Reno won 40 of 64 draws (62.5%)
Shots on goal: Reno 37, San Diego 23
Point scorers
Jake Minton - 2G
Roger Hutchison - 2G
Weston Nash - 1G, 1A
Johnny Garrity - 1G, 1A
Charlie Montgomery 1G
Will McDonnell - 1A
Wil Gauthier - 1A
Adam Barba - 1A
Alex Gunnoe - 1A
Matt Robinson - 1A
Hunter Sine - 1A
Friday, 10.16.26 - Game 1 Highlights: Reno Ice Raiders vs. San Diego Renegades:
Saturday, 10.17.26 - Game 2 Highlights: Reno Ice Raiders vs. San Diego Renegades:
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