Western Renegades (NSD)
Years Active: 1972–1974, 1985
Home Base: None (strictly a traveling road team)
Also Known As: Reilly’s Renegades

The Western Renegades were created in 1972 as a showcase for one of Roller Games’ first true homegrown stars, Danny Reilly. A popular enforcer and defensive specialist with the Los Angeles Thunderbirds, Reilly was known for his red hair, large frame, and showmanship, but he was also a surprisingly agile and well-conditioned skater in his prime. Management rewarded his drawing power with a team of his own, which on the East Coast was billed as the Western Renegades.

The Renegades debuted in June 1972 with a series against the Baltimore-Washington Cats in the Mid-Atlantic region. Their “Christmas tree” style uniforms were distinctive and quickly became fan favorites. While the team had talent—skaters like Toni Kadrmas, Dallas Everitt, and Patti Cavin joined Reilly—it was Reilly himself who defined the squad. No Roller Games team before them had been so closely identified with a single player.

In their first season, the Renegades made it to the 1972 Championship but fell to the powerhouse Thunderbirds. They skated as a road team until early 1974 before disbanding. A brief revival came in 1985, when the Renegades returned for a short run of series before fading once again.

Though short-lived, the Renegades left their mark as a “one-man brand” team, remembered as much for Danny Reilly’s presence as for their on-track results.