What You Need to Know

JR TEAM - For the 23-24 season, The NJ Renegades will skate a Junior team in the EHL PREMIER for birth years 2003-2007s.   

It is a full season competitive team to prepare for college, as well as even higher level Jr programs with our direct affiliation with TEAM MD of the EHL and their ownership and affiliations with the NAHL MD Black Bears and the USHL Youngstown Phantoms.  We are still recruiting, watching video and interviewing players for the 2023-2024 season.  

18U (16U) JDP Team - The NJ Renegades also skates a Junior Development Program (JDP) team.   The JDP plays short season from mid August-Thanksgiving and trains "Like and With" the Junior team and practices with them 3 times a week!  It is a Junior Hockey experience at the 18U level to prepare for your high school season and your Junior hockey experience.  Positions are available for players birth years 05-06 as well as players in the 07-08 birth years that we feel can play up at the 18U level. 

This is a great option for the midget player if you’re interested in top level coaching and the overall program development aspects at SportsCare Arena in Randolph, NJ with the Renegades.

So if you would like to hear about our program please feel free to reach out to me via email at cgraz16@ptd.net to set up a phone conversation.

What is Junior Hockey?

The purpose of Junior Hockey is to develop and prepare the player for career advancement in collegiate programs, and advancement into even higher levels of Jr hockey.  According to a survey of college coaches the most heavily scouted leagues were all at the level of Junior Hockey. Junior Hockey is the peak of the skill development program, and the ultimate challenge for players wishing to test themselves and retain their amateur status. Athletes age 20 and under as of December 31 are eligible for Junior Hockey; so for this upcoming 23-24 season it would be birth years 2003-2007. 

The Renegades Junior team practices 3 times per week, with approx. 6 hours on ice in the 1st half of the season and off-ice conditioning / classroom strategy instruction / video breakdown. The team has about 3-4 bus trips and hotel stays that are at no extra charge.  For 2nd half of the season we scale it back to 2 days a week of on-ice practice with all of the same instruction and developmental aspects.  Players available during the day can schedule a mid-day skate with Coach Graz to get more ice.  

The Jr team will also have their own dedicated locker room to keep their gear in, if they choose to do so.

What is the JDP?

The Junior Development Program is a midget level hockey experience that practices with the Junior Team to prepare to move up to Junior level hockey as well as getting in the best possible physical shape and skill preparation development.  JDP players are better prepared for High School hockey by practicing at a higher, faster level.  Our training focuses on long-term development and season preparation.

The JDP practices 3 x's per week: 2 nights(Tues 8:30pm & Fri 9pm) and 1 optional day after school (Thurs. from approx. 2:30-5pm).  This afternoon skills practice is optional and a player can attend any time and stay for any amount of time.  This skills session focuses on individual skill development instruction similar to a small group or private lesson atmosphere.  Players can come and go at any time during this practice.

18U/16U JDP Team plays approx. a 20+ game schedule in the newly formed AHF showcases, as well as a few non league games and/or tournaments. The plan is to play as a short season from mid-late August until approx mid November (weekend before Thanksgiving).  We will poll the families after we get a few weeks into the season to see who would want to play an extended season in more of a spread out schedule.  We give tons of ice (approx. 6 hours a week), practice with the Junior team, and we do off-ice, video breakdown and classroom strategy training.

Why skate with the Renegades?

The NJ Renegades hockey organization is a high intense on and off-ice program, focused on education on and off the ice in a family atmosphere.  Our retention rate has always been extremely high and the loyalty and love for the program is shown by the families and former players that come back to support the program at events such as the Open House, Hall of Fame night and the Alumni game.  

How much does it cost?

Our tuition is competitive, and our terms are more friendly.

The Jr team’s tuition is $8,500.  JDP team’s tuition is $3,500.  There is no additional cost for uniforms except a $300 deposit for gear that is lent to each player for the season.  The uniform deposit will be returned when the gear is returned.  Gear consists of game jerseys, game pant shell, game socks, helmet stickers, dri-fit t-shirt & shorts for both Jr & JDP.  Jr players will also get additional gear of hockey bag, sweats, hoody, and helmet/gloves if needed.

*The $300 fundraiser is as simple as can be and is a huge part of us working as a family to keep costs down and not being paid by our families. 

How can I lean more about a Renegades hockey experience at SportsCare Arena in Randolph, NJ?

Email GM & Jr Team Head Coach Cliff Graziano, at cgraz16@ptd.net.  We have a great future ahead of us, and I’d love to talk with you about how you can become part of our Renegades family!

A Program is only as Good as the Quality People who Endorse it!!!

A NJ native and Stanley Cup Champion

A legendary College Coach and Builder of a Top Div. I Program

Alumni Players who Prospered at the NCAA Div. I  &  Div. III Championship and Pro Levels

as well as the Major Hockey Schools in the World!

"I’ve known Cliff Graziano and his Renegades program for a long time; he’s extremely dedicated to the player’s current and future success. His Jr program does the necessary things from constant video analysis, proper off-ice training/nutrition to individual skills and team development. I recommend the player out there looking to seriously play college hockey at all levels to give this program serious consideration."
Jim Dowd 1995 Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils

"I had the pleasure of coaching Cliff Graziano for 4 years at Penn State. He was a hard working player whose determination to succeed and love for the game was infectious to everyone in the program. I know he puts this same passion and work ethic into the Renegades Jr. program that he owns and operates. Cliff and his Renegades Jr. staff will do everything possible to provide the player they coach the necessary means to make them successful in their future hockey and life endeavors."
Joe Battista Head Coach & Associate AD Penn State Ice Hockey

"The Renegades changed my life. They changed my game and my training habits from day 1! I went from an avg. tier I youth player to MJHL Jr League Off. Defenseman of the Year within 1 season. I then went off to prep school where I lead all of New England prep schools in scoring. I was fortunate enough to get drafted by the Vancouver Canucks as well as moving on to play NCAA Div. I hockey at Yale where we won a National Championship in my freshman year. I could not have done this without the Renegades and all that I learned in my 2 years under them. I am forever grateful for my time there and how they helped me."
Alumni Jr Player Matt Beattie, pro player, NHL Vancouver Canucks Draft Pick & NCAA Div. I Yale NATIONAL CHAMPION

"Cliff Graziano is one of, if not the best coach I have ever been taught by. Not only can he relate to every player, but he teaches them as well. Cliff was my coach for about 5 years and they were the most progressive I have ever had in hockey. Fundamentally I was almost perfect from all the skating, or going to every one of his Turcotte Stickhandling camps in the summer, mastering every move until my hands had calluses on them. Not only was he my coach, he became a family friend, and he was my idol. I would try to master every move he did on the ice so I could look like that. Some coaches can teach, some can play, Cliff can do both and I owe tons of thanks and appreciation to Cliff and the Renegades organization."
Alumni Jack Callahan, 2008 Tier 1 USHL Draft Pick, Quinnipiac University NCAA D1, U. Wisconsin Eau-Clair NCAA DIII

"Pro Ambitions and the New Jersey Renegades share many of the same hockey developmental philosophies that have made both programs highly successful. Teaching skills foremost builds better players and makes the NJ Renegades one of the best choices for travel hockey in NJ. I strongly recommend your hockey player become a Renegade!" 
Jeff Serowik, Owner - ProAmbitions Hockey, Inc.

“The NJ Renegades are known for having a unique approach to teaching proper skill development to their players and teams. Our organizations have teamed up in the past and will again in the future to provide excellent instruction in hockey techniques. The Renegades provide a quality program and atmosphere that we are happy to endorse."
Robby Glantz, President - Robby Glantz Power Skating

“The NJ Renegades Hockey Club teaches Individual Hockey Skills that produce quality players. The Renegades give tremendous attention to proper skating, stickhandling, passing and shooting techniques. Cliff Graziano Jr. has been one of our finest Head Instructors for over 12 years. Cliff has now taken his knowledge of the techniques we use and his superior teaching skills to the NJ Renegades Hockey Club. These same techniques & teaching skills have produced NHL players such as MIKE MODANO and PAT LAFONTAINE. If you desire to become a superior hockey player with excellent individual skills then the NJ Renegades Hockey Club is the club for you."
Real Turcotte, Owner Turcotte Stickhandling Hockey School 

As of Sat. Nov. 5th... Well, with training camp well behind us and the 1st 10 games in the books the overall record doesn’t look very good to the observer looking at the standings online, but Head Coach Cliff Graziano says “We are so very close.  It sounds cliche’, but outside of 1  game we’re in every game.  An OT loss, a Shootout loss, a few 1-goal game losses; we’re so close but yet so far”.

The team has suffered setbacks early in the season with 4 major injuries which in result hurt the overall depth of the team.  The players are working extremely hard on and off the ice in video sessions, drylands training, on-ice practice sessions, chalk talk education and games.  “Sometimes with a young group with a lot of players experiencing Jr hockey for the first time, it can take time to change your game in order to prosper at the Jr level says Asst. Coach Mike Wenzel.  Coach Graz and I played together in Jr’s for the Devils as well as in college at Penn State, we know what it takes, but it also doesn’t happen overnight.  It’ll come together like it always does.  We got a good group of kids here and they listen, work hard and are coachable. I can’t wait to see where these guys are at in March!”.

The Rens goaltending got off to a little bit of a slow start, but are now starting to pick up steam.  Aiden Gambone picked up his 1st Jr win in a 40 save effort vs the Philadelphia Little Flyers with a 5-1 victory on Oct. 23rd.  

Some bright spots have been the play of 2nd year player Michael Gugliotta with 5 goals and 3 assists for 8 points in 8 games played; along with veteran Dylan Idland (Asst Captain) with 8 points in 10 games.  Cam Cherry (Captain), and Matt Murphy have each recorded 7 and 5 points respectively. As well as newcomer Jake Demacos has been a ball of energy and excitement with his speed and creative play.

Asst. Coach Connor Harrington who played for the Renegades back in 2012-2014 seasons added “These kids are so nice to work with. They don’t always know what it takes to reach a higher level of play.  I, as a former player, and under Coach Graz’s Renegades tradition always try and help these players on and off the ice so they gain a new perspective on what it takes to succeed."

Finally Coach Graz added “I almost always start out with a young team, and it can be frustrating for all of us early in the season, but when it finally comes together we are all so proud of the efforts we put into it.  Just like when we finally got our 1st win vs the Philadelphia Little Flyers on Sunday, the boys were so happy that they were now reaping the rewards of the fruits of our labor. I’m not saying there won’t be bumps in the road, but I predict good things coming to this group in the next few months.”

Stay Tuned!  

"Turning on CNN and other news channels and watching the devastation of Ukraine and invasion by Russia was very disturbing.  Upon signing a player of Ukranian descent and hearing the family’s stories of family and friends they still have over in Ukraine made it even more difficult.” Said Renegades Head Coach Cliff Graziano  

“When reading that the junior hockey news posted that they needed help... https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/new-jersey-renegades-join-tjhn-to-help-ukraine-players/