Sockeyes Media – Steve Erickson
Playing consistently in any sport starts with leadership and this season the Sockeyes have a group of dedicated players which start with Captain Mathew Stewart and Alternate Captain Gavin Bains.
Taking direction from the coaching staff as well as having the qualities to convey their message throughout the team rests solely on their shoulders. This season team chemistry has been able to bond as they head into each and every game with the end goal being nothing short of the PJHL championship. The past week saw the team put to the test by taking on an aggressive yet talented Chilliwack Jets team who tested and at times controlled all areas of the ice. Playing aggressively means playing disciplined in a contest that saw the Jets assessed four penalties in the first period that allowed Teo Lin to get the home squad on the board at 7:43 while on the PP.
They continued to press and saw Uyeda send a stretch pass to Zhou who fed one to Byce Strandt giving the home squad a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes while outshooting the Jets by a 14-7 margin. The second saw the Sockeyes come out with a lax attitude unable to finish off plays that allowed Jet’s Captain Metcalfe to set up Lindhout at 14:37 for their first goal beating Thomas Popa in what would be their only goal of the game. Chilliwack outshot the Sockeyes 13-10 in the second while the home team managed three minors to the Jets’ single minor. The third saw the chippy style continue with a penalty-filled period with Chilliwack assessed ten penalties while Richmond was guilty of taking seven but was able to put a pair of goals through sixty minutes.
The Sockeyes were two for nine on the PP while the Jets were unable to get any with the man advantage in a game that saw the Jets get outshot by a 37-26 margin.
Game Stars: 1st Bryce Strandt (1G/0A) 2nd Teo Lin (1G/0A) 3rd Jacob Lindhout (1G/0A)
Richmond had a day off with their next match-up against Port Moody Panthers in what they mentioned was a must-win game keeping them focused and positive continuing to move up in the standings. The game never started the way they wanted with Iannacone in the box allowing Panthers Ty Balchen to jump on a PP marker taking the early lead which proved to be short-lived.
A short 41 seconds later Justin Grant evened up the score collecting his 7th of the season which was followed by Huo giving them the lead only to have Balchen send the teams to the dressing room even after twenty minutes. The back-and-forth affair continued with Panthers Captain Connor Hughes giving them the lead at 6:35 saw Lin jump on a loose puck while on the PP at 12:36 with Justin Grant working magic to even the game at three after 40 minutes. The third saw both clubs trade goals with the Sockeyes assessed four minors while the Panthers stayed out of the “sin-bin” and given the talent of both teams no one was surprised that this would take extra time to find the winner.
Unlike other shootouts, this would end in the third round saw Nicholas Noren score the lone goal giving Richmond the shootout win and keeping their winning streak alive. Despite the Panthers getting all three star selections the end result saw the Sockeyes outshoot the Panthers by a 63-30 margin going 1-2 on the power play while the Panthers went 2-5. Next up has the Sockeyes return home for their next match-up on October 19th as they play host in game two of the tunnel series which will no doubt be a spirited match-up. Through 13 games the Sockeyes sit with 25 points tied for first in league play as they play the game while the Ice Hawks (10-2-0-1) through 13 games sit with 21 points.
I’ll see you at the “Fish Tank”
