Shield doesn't prevent Wrobel from scoring

Center J.J. Wrobel played with a full shield Saturday night for the first time since his college days, but it didn't seem to affect his game very much. He scored a goal and added an assist in Richmond's 5-2 victory over Knoxville.

The 31-year-old needed the shield to protect his left eye, which was hit by a puck Dec. 28 against Fayetteville at the Coliseum. He missed five games waiting for the doctor's clearance to play.

"It's tough moving the puck in tight, like in my feet and stuff," Wrobel said. "Other than that, you get used to it. Just try to keep things simple. It was good to get back in the lineup. The boys have been playing well."

Wrobel said the doctor wanted to wait until the swelling had gone down significantly in his retina before allowing him to play under game conditions.

The veteran will be back on the ice tomorrow when the Renegades finish their four-game homestand against Twin City. Faceoff is 7:35 p.m.

Defensive strategy has Gades on roll

The Renegades (13-13-2) have been giving up more shots than they've been taking lately, but most of them aren't getting into the net, thanks to improved play by the defense. That helps explain, in part, why Richmond is on a four-game winning streak and has captured six of seven overall in climbing back to .500.

"A lot of [shots] are from the perimeter," said defenseman Dan Vandermeer. "If you ask our goalies, they'll tell you they'll take 40 shots from the outside any day than to have 10 or 15 from right there in the slot.

"Both the forwards and all the 'D' are doing a good job in keeping them to the outside and making them take low-percentage shots. That limits their goals and scoring chances."

The goaltenders, Ryan Senft and A.J. Bucchino, have been doing the rest, holding the opposition to 11 goals during the winning streak.

"It always helps when the goalies are making saves when we need them to," Vandermeer said. "Our guys have been putting the puck in the net more consistently the past five or six games, and our goalies are coming up big."

The Renegades rank second in the Southern Professional Hockey League in shots against (32.3) but are only sixth in shots for (32.7).

Read latest player to leave for Europe

When Christian Read left last week for Germany, he was the third player this season who has deserted the Renegades to go overseas. Dustin Hughes departed after only three games, and Danny White spent 23 games here before heading to Slovenia.

"I try to be as loyal as I can to the guys working for me," Goudie said. "Sometimes it doesn't pay off. You bring a guy in and give him a chance, and then they bolt for somewhere else. Everybody thinks the grass, I guess, is greener over in Europe."

Read played in four games (two assists) before telling Goudie he had a better offer.

-- John Packett