Amber Renkas will trade in her Sharks' black and teal for Saints' red and white come the fall. (Facebook/Battlefords AAA Sharks)
South-bound for next chapter

Sharks standout Renkas commits to Maryville Saints

Jan 31, 2024 | 4:27 PM

Following the conclusion of the 2023-24 hockey season, Battlefords AAA Sharks defenceman and alternate captain, Amber Renkas is primed to take her game to the post-secondary level for the next chapter in her hockey career, south of the border.

Renkas recently announced her commitment to Maryville University for the fall of 2024, located in Town and Country, Missouri, fulfilling a goal and a dream she has been working towards since getting involved in the sport competitively, over the last three years at the AAA level.

“I knew I wanted to play hockey after high school, and playing in the States has always been a goal of mine, so I’m super excited,” Renkas said of the commitment. “I’m super glad I get to achieve that goal.”

In addition to joining a successful Maryville Saints hockey program this is currently ranked fifth in the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s W1 rankings (Women’s Division I), Renkas said her decision also came down to the opportunities ahead inside the classroom, in addition to on the ice.

“One of the unique things about Maryville, and why I chose them, was they have a direct entry physiotherapy program which is what I want to go into and something like that just makes it so much easier to transfer back into Canada education-wise,” she said. She added with a smile: “I’ve also always been a [St. Louis] Blues fan, so might as well make the most of it.”

Currently tied for the Sharks’ scoring this season amongst blue liners, Renkas’ five points (one goal, four assists) in 23 games tell just a piece of what she’s meant to the club this season.

Head coach of the AAA Sharks, Nolan Horbach said Maryville is getting a mobile puck-mover on the ice, as well as a strong leader off of it.

“Coming to us this season, Amber’s really taken the opportunity and run with it, and come in with an incredible attitude just willing to learn,” Horbach said. “Her strength is her speed which allows her to be a threat at both ends, and I think it’s important to recognize her role as one of the older girls. She’s really taken a lot of our younger girls under her care and looked after them so we’re also so extremely proud of what she’s brought off the ice as well.”

Renkas and her Battlefords Sharks’ teammates are currently in the midst of a two-week break in their schedule. The team will return to play Saturday, Feb. 10 and 11 for a back-to-back with the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox, Sask.

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

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