Quick start leads to 5-1 victory

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Coming off of a 75 shot, 4-3 shootout victory in Aldergrove last night, the Sockeyes continued their strong play defeating Mission 5-1. Powerplay goals were in full force as well with Richmond scoring on 3 of their 9 opportunities. 


Inside the Minoru Arena they installed a brand new gorgeous scoreboard. Crystal clear displays for goals, penalties, shots and time. But just 11 seconds into the game it was used. Connor Wilson was able to fire a puck towards the net, as the puck bounced of Michael Barr's shoulder and into the air it dropped down behind him. Wiebe was able to poke the puck to Drew Spencer who tapped it in for his 14th goal of the season. Kicking things off with the earliest goal scored by the Sockeyes all year. But just four minutes later and after a Sockeyes penalty kill ended, Travis Park was able to walk the line and send a hard shot on net that slipped past Aaron Oakley. 


With the game tied the Icebreakers turned up the heat generating a large part of the offence. They could not capitalize however as the Sockeyes powerplay would come alive at the 12:41 mark of the first period. Roder fired a puck on net and the rebound went straight to Jeremy Hamaguchi who would put the Sockeyes up 2-1. Exactly five minutes later captain Patrick Hunter showed great poise calling for the puck at the red line, he skated in gingerly waiting for his teammates. He would fire the puck on Michael Barr, the puck got caught in his pads and poked it through for a 3-1 lead. Before the period was out they would net another powerplay goal, this time Sebastien Pare would add his 15th goal and team leading 46th point. He worked the puck down low with Keenan Webb until Pare found an opening and wired it low on Barr.


Coming into the second period the Sockeyes had a big 4-1 lead and were in total control, but Mission didn't show any quit, registering twelve shots in the period to Richmond's ten. The only goal of the period was scored by Jake Roder, his team leading 23rd goal, with a shot off the wing. 


The third period was played mostly inside the Sockeyes zone, despite getting two powerplay opportunities the home town team couldn't outshoot the Icebreakers, this was only the third time all year they haven't had more rubber on net. Getting outshot 37-34 in this game, but coming away with a 5-1 victory. 


The win moves Richmond back into first place in the Tom Shaw Conference with the same amount of games played. Delta and Richmond have been battling for first place for month's now and the final 7 games should show how great these two teams can be. They play each other just once more this season, a February 15th date at the Ladner Leisure Centre.


The next Sockeyes game is at home to the Aldergrove Kodiaks, at 7:30 from the Minoru Arena. Be sure to tune in to SockeyesTV for live streamed games. www.richmondsockeyes.com 

Roder gets back on track with natural hat-trick

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Lat week the Richmond Sockeyes, lost at home to the Delta Ice Hawks, but they wouldn't make that mistake twice. Defeating the Squamish Wolf Pack by a score of 5-2. On the heels of a great game by Jake Roder scoring a natural hat-trick.

Roder started off the season extremely well, leading the league in goals and points for a sustained period of time, but recently he has tailed off. But on this Thursday night at the Minoru Arena in front of 115 fans, Roder would step up his game in big fashion. Scoring after the Wolf Pack had tied it, getting a shorthanded goal and then getting the Natural hat-trick goal. Proving that he can still perform like he did at the start of the season.

The first period was not what was expected, considering the way the Sockeyes have played against the Wolf Pack so far this season. It started out well for Richmond getting the opening few shots, but the Pack battled back and started to really turn the game around on the Sockeyes. Getting the better of most scoring opportunities. While their defense prevented the Sockeyes from crossing the blueline. Richmond outshot Squamish 11-8 after the first period.

Richmond came out flying in the first period and were rewarded with the opening goal of the game, Kamesh Goundar would throw the puck on net and it would slide through Jordan Liem's pad. But the lead didn't last long as the fiesty Pack made a nice passing play, Jaret Babych would walk the puck out from behind the net and fire it on net. The puck hit the leg of Brady Bjornson and tipped in to tie the game at 1. Just as it looked ike the Wolf Pack got back into it a strange play occured at the other end of the ice. 4 Richmond Sockeyes stood around the net after a Jeremy Hamaguchi shot, after a few hacks at the puck Roder slipped it past Liem to give the Sockeyes another lead. Before the Period was out Roder would add another when he stripped the puck from Sean Stahlnecker, and deked around Liem and roofed it top shelf. It was a beautiful backhand for his second goal of the game. Sockeyes outshot the Pack badly in that period 16 to 6.

In the final frame Jake Roder got his final goal of the game on a beautiful tic-tac-toe play around the Wolf Pack goalie. Jeremy Hamaguchi sent a blind backhand pass to Rudi Thorsteinson, Thorsteinson would then sent it cross crease to a wide open Jake Roder. He potted his Natural Hat goal in terrific fashion. Drew Spencer added another snap shot goal, and Squamish got a final goal from Jacob Bergeron to end the game with a 5-2 score.

Aaron Oakley got the win for the Sockeyes in net, made some big saves for his team when the score was tied 1-1 but was left relatively untouched in the third period. Both teams went scoreless on the powerplay, including a 4 minute high sticking penalty in the third period.

The Sockeyes took over first place in the league with the win and moved to 29-5-3 on the season with 61 points. Their next game is Wednesday January 26th at the Aldergrove Community Centre, against the Aldergrove Kodiaks. The next home game will be Thursday January 27th against the Mission Icebreakers at 7:30 PM. SockeyesTV start at 7:!5 on www.richmondsockeyes.com

Sam Chichak scores hat trick in 8-2 Sockeyes victory

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The Sockeyes just keep on rolling through the Tom Shaw conference as they beat up on Squamish to the tune of 8-2 Thanks in part to the Sam Chichak who lit up the scoreboard against the Squamish Wolf Pack.

Increasing their lead to three points on the Delta Ice Hawks, the Sockeyes showed once again why they are the team to beat this year. They have not lost a game to anyone in their division since a October 26th shootout loss to Delta, their last regulation loss was a 5-1 loss to North Delta Devils. They have had an unbelievable few months as they continue to win time after time.

It's safe to say that the Fish are the hottest team in the PIJHL, proving to be a tough team whether they are at home or on the road. They are gearing up for a long playoff run, hoping to have the same success as what they had in the 2009 season. Winning the Division, playoffs, Cyclone Taylor Cup and Keystone Cup.

Saturday at the Brennan Park Arena in Squamish they defeated the Wolf Pack handily.The first period saw goals from Sam Chichak, Eli Wiebe scoring on the power play while Squamish was down two men. Drew Spencer scored with 47 seconds left to head the Sockeyes to the dressing room up 3-0. Shots were heavily favouring Richmond 11-4.

The Second period started off well when just 4:04 in, Keenan Webb scored his third goal of the season. Sam Chichak added his second marker of the game at the midway point. Squamish got on the board for the first time when players with the last name starting with "B"scored. Jaret Babych got the goal while assists went to Brady Bjornson and Jacob Bergeron. Jake Roder made the score 6-1 after forty minutes with an unassisted goal, there was under two minutes left in the period.

The last twenty minutes saw the Wolf Pack actually outshoot the Sockeyes, 7-6. A rare occurrence as the Fish nearly send everything but the kitchen sink on net. Drew Spencer got his twelth goal of the year and second on the evening, while Sam Chichak scored his first hat-trick of the 2010-2011 season. Before the game ended the Wolf Pack scored when Garrett Woodside made the final score 8-2.

For the 32nd time out of 34 games Richmond outshot their opponent, this time 34-19. Aaron Oakley now has 16 victories in 18 tries in net, he stopped 17 of 19 shots. Jordan Liem stopped 26 of 34 shots. Sam Chichak was named first star with three goals, Drew Spencer was second star with two goals and an assist, and the Wolf Pack's Jaret Babych getting the final nod with a goal in the game.

Six Sockeyes players had more than two points including Keenan Webb, Jake Roder, Brayden Low, Sam Chichak, Drew Spencer and Eli Wiebe.

The next game will be Thursday, January the 13th when the Delta Ice Hawks come to the Minoru Arena. It will be a battle of the two best teams in the PIJHL. Game time is 7:30 with SockeyesTV starting at 7:15 be sure to tune in on www.richmondsockeyes.com

Sockeyes continue hot streak defeating Grandview

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The Richmond Sockeyes just keep on winning as they got off to a good start scoring three goals in the first period. Thanks in part to a big game from the always physical Kamesh Goundar, he scored two goals including the game winner and an assist. The Sockeyes hope that the New Year will continue the success that they had in 2010.

Tonight's game was the first at home since the Christmas break. They started the off in a good way as Drew Spencer fed Kamesh Goundar a pass behind the net. Goundar would then make a quick wraparound and squeeze the puck in between the post and David Banka's skate. This was the first time that Norbert Biszczak did not start the game for Grandview. After Colton Schock took a hooking penalty, the Sockeyes were pressuring the Steelers and Jake Roder passed it to Clayton Wright at the point. He walked the line and then sent the puck on net, Jeremy Hamaguchi Would tip the puck right past Banka to make it 2-0. With 5:09 left in the period Captain Patrick Hunter sent a cross crease feed to Sebastian Pare would ripped it in to end the period 3-0. Norbert Bisxczak would then replace Banka in net. Shots were 15-7 for the Fish.

The second period turned in favour for the Steelers when Kentaro Tanaka sent affiliate player Austin Vetterl a pass at the red line. Vetterl stepped over the blueline and used Clayton Wright as a screen, fired the op corner and over Devin Nijjer's glove. You could see Nijjer wasn't happy with himself after that goal.
 
Things got interesting after Jeremy Hamaguchi thought he had scored his second powerplay goal of the game, The puck went past Bizsczak but after initially calling it a goal, the referees discussed and said the net was off it's moorings. But from our vantage point the net appeared to be flat on the ice. Shortly after the Sockeyes got a 5 on 3 but could not score and it proved costly. The Steelers got within one goal Nicolas Gushue scored on the powerplay to make things 3-2.

The game's suprise hero though Kamesh Goundar would answer back for Richmond. After Michael Ball sent an absolutely beautiful pass from in the Sockeyes end to the opposing blueline, Goundar walked in patiently and snapped a shot on Bizsczak. It was so hard it bounced off his shoulder and just managed to trickle in by only an inch or so.

The third period was played very sloppy by both teams and there was a whole lot of neutral zone play. Grandview would add another goal by Grange Gordon, Th Sockeyes potted two more from Rudi Thorsteinson and Eli Wiebe to end the game with a 6-3 Sockeyes victory.

Grandview was badly outshot during the game, only getting 22 shots while the Sockeyes had 48. Kamesh Goundar was first star with two goals and an assist. His goal was the game-winner. Jeremy Hamaguchi had the second star with a goal and an assist. Third star went to affliate player Austin Vetterl who played solid all game long for the Steelers.

The win once again continues the Sockeyes climb in the Tom Shaw standings. they have won 6 straight games and are 19-2-0-2 in their last 23 games. They have played unbelievable in the last two month's, hoping to continue that success in January. Their next game is Saturday, January the 8th against The Squamish Wolk Pack at Brennan Park Arena. Next home game is next Thursday January the 13th against division rivals the Delta Ice Hawks. Be sure to tune in for SockeyesTV at www.richmondsockeyes.com

Preview of Sockeyes vs. Steelers

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The Richmond Sockeyes will entertain the Grandview Steelers at the Minoru Arena Thursday night in the Sockeyes first game of 2011.

This will mark the sixth time these two teams have met this season in a battle of the Tom Shaw conference. Heading into the game on Thursday, the Sockeyes currently hold down top spot in the PIJHL, with a single point on the Delta Ice Hawks. Grandview sits fourth in the Tom Shaw with 41 points.

The Sockeyes have defeated the Steelers in all five games against them this season outscoring them 22-11.

In their last game, the Sockeyes skated to a 5-2 victory in Grandview as Mitchell Smith, Drew Spencer, Jeremy Hamaguchi, and Patrick Hunter scored the goals; for the Steelers Marko Gordic tallied twice, with Curtis Rocchetti notching the other. Aaron Oakley stopped 29 of 31 shots directed his way for the victory. Sockeyes went 0/4 on the power play, while the Steelers went 1/5.

In the game, Oakley was named first star, Gordic second and Patrick Hunter was named third.

Join the Sockeyes as they look to kick off the new year with a win at Minoru Arena. If unable to attend, join Dustin Forbes and Aaron Mackay with the play by play on SockeyesTV on http://www.richmondsockeyes.com/. Pre-game 7:15, puck drop 7:30.

Sockeyes come back with a big post-Christmas 6-2 win

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The Richmond Sockeyes came out from the Christmas break in high spirits and defeated the North Delta Devils 6-2 at Sungod Arena. The victory is the Sockeyes fifth straight and seventh of their last eight games. Its been a great couple of month's for the Sockeyes which they will hope to continue in the New Year.

The Sockeyes have proved to be nearly impossible to beat when scoring first. They would get the opening goal at Sungod Arena as Eli Wiebe scored when he received a pass from Drew Spencer. It beat Alexander Ahnert at the 6:58 mark of the first period. But the North Delta Devils would get the next goal as Adam Nathwani scored from Taylan Kornelsen and Wesley Lee as it got past Aaron Oakley. Aaron Oakley got the start tonight as the Sockeyes have been switching up goaltending duties in the past five games. Patrick Hunter would add his team leading 18th goal of the season with Sebastien Pare and affiliate player Luke Tully getting the helpers to close out the first period 2-1 Sockeyes.


The second period was all Sockeyes as they outshot North Delta 16 to 7 and scored the only two goals to make it 4-1. Mitchell Smith scored from Kyzen Loo and Kamesh Goundar. Loo has been very hot the past couple of months and is now just four points back of team leading Sebastien Pare with 40 points. Eli Wiebe would pot his second goal of the game and tenth of the season with 7:41 to go in the second period. The Sockeyes played very well and wouldn't allow the Devils offence to get its game going. Sockeyes had 34 shots while the Devils could only manage 19. 


At the mid mark of the third period the big defenceman Michael Ball would add his third goal of the season. Only Clayton Wright has more for goals a defenceman with four, his came at the 10:20 mark. The final Sockeyes goal was scored by Kamesh Goundar who got his second point of the night while assist went to Drew Spencer getting his second assist and Sam Chichak. The Devils would net one more goal to close out the game as Adam Nishi scored from Adam Nathwani and Wesley Lee. Shots after 60 minutes were 44 for the Sockeyes and 24 for the North Delta Devils.

Neither team could get their power play working as both teams went 0 for 4 on the man advantage. With the Victory the Sockeyes put a little bit of distance between themselves and the Delta Ice Hawks for first place in the Tom Shaw Conference with 53 points. The Ice Hawks do have a game at hand and sit three points back. The next Sockeyes game will be ThursdayJanuary 6th at 7:30 p.m. from the Minoru Arena in Richmond. Be sure to tune in to Sockeyes TV at www.richmondsockeyes.com. Happy New Year everybody hope 2011 will be great.