Sockeyes win first Cyclone Taylor game 4-3 (Sockeyes 1-0-0)

                                        vs.                

What could have been the two top Junior B teams playing this afternoon saw the Richmond Sockeyes skate away with a 4-3 victory over the Osoyoos Coyotes. Rudi Thorsteinson who has been playing some unbelievable hockey over the last 2 months including the playoffs put on a show today. Thorsteinson scored two goals and added an assist to lead Richmond to an important first game win at the Provincial Championships the Cyclone Taylor Cup.

Osoyoos got on the board first, with Troy Quintal scoring the tournaments first goal 3:04 into the second period. Both teams traded goals before the period ended. Richmond scored two goals, both coming on the power play, as Jeremy Hamaguchi and Rudi Thorsteinson scored. Sam Nigg scored the second Osoyoos goal and after two periods the score was 2-2 and the Sockeyes were outshooting the Coyotes 29-22.

A big turning point of that period was when Turner Popoff checked a Coyote into the end board he received a five-minute major penalty. That cause a minute long 5 on 3 man-advantage for the Coyotes but nothing came out of it. They killed off both and prevented Osoyoos from getting a big lead.

Brayden Low game the Sockeyes their first lead of the game on a shorthanded goal just over a minute into the third period. The Coyotes tied the game when Josh Gray beat Aaron Oakley to tie the game at 3-3. It appeared like the game was heading towards overtime, but in stunning fashion the Sockeyes top line broke in on a 3 on 1. Rudi Thorsteinson held onto the puck and roofed it over Kyle Laslo with just 51.5 seconds left in the game. That would be the game winner as Richmond snuck out the win late in the game.

The specialty teams played a big role for Richmond as they scored two goals on five chances, while the Sockeyes penalty kill stopped four chances including a 5 on 3 and a five minute major penalty. Aaron Oakley was big in net stopping 33 of 36 shots on goal. Kyle Laslo stopped 31 of 35 for Osoyoss.

Jeremy Hamaguchi was named Sockeyes player of the game with a goal and two assists. Shane Hanna was Osoyoos's player of the game.

Richmond will now play the VIJHL champion Peninsula Panthers tomorrow at 2:00 pacific time.

2010-2011 PIJHL CHAMPIONS

                                                                   

The Richmond Sockeyes are your 2010-2011 PIJHL Champions after defeating the Abbotsford Pilots in four straight to advance to the Cyclone Taylor Cup. Richmond will be the PIJHL's contender at the Provincials Junior "B" championships. They will face three other teams, from the VIJHL the Peninsula Panthers, the host team the Fernie Ghostriders and we are still waiting for the KIJHL champions who will be either the Castlegar Rebels or the Osoyoos Coyotes. The tournament gets underway on Thursday the 31st in Fernie at the Fernie Memorial Arena.

Richmond celebrated it's second PIJHL championship in three years last night against the Abbotsford Pilots sweeping them in four games. Game four saw Eli Wiebe score two goals, Keenan Webb get the game winner and Patrick Hunter seal the deal with an empty net goal in the final minute for a 4-2 victory.

The Richmond Sockeyes will now move onto the Cyclone Taylor cup, the schedule is as follows:

Sockeyes vs. Osoyoos Coyotes(KIJHL)  - Thursday March 31st 3:00
Sockeyes vs. Peninsula Panthers(VIJHL)  - Friday April 1st 3:00\
Sockeyes vs. Fernie Ghostriders(Host)     - Saturday April 2nd 7:30

Bronze Medal Game
3rd vs. 4th  Sunday April 3rd 2:00

Gold Medal Game
1st vs. 2nd Sunday April 3rd 6:00

Sockeyes win game seven 3-2 (Sockeyes win series 4-3)

                                      vs                   
It took seven games, four overtimes, and a Ice Hawks comeback, but the Richmond Sockeyes are you Tom Shaw Finals Champions. They defeated the Delta Ice Hawks by a 3-2 score on Wednesday night to take game seven and win the series 4-3. Eli Wiebe would score the series winning goal in the third period to send the Sockeyes to the PIJHL championship.


The first period had lots of chances for both teams but no goals, it wasn`t until 4:59 of the second period that a puck crossed the red line. Keenan Webb who has been playing great all playoffs long just kept rolling, scoring the game first goal. Rudi Thorsteinson was able to spring Web just past the blue line, Webb came right through the slot and fired a quick shot. He managed to pick up his own rebound and send it past Nick Enegrens pad for a 1-0 lead. 


Eli Wiebe who only has one goal this series came up big right afterwards nearly giving Richmond a 2-0 lead, but just couldn`t sneak it underneath Enegren. The puck came back down into the Sockeyes end and Wiebe tripped up Cody Fidgett, Wiebe would receive two minutes for tripping. With the faceoff down in the Sockeyes end the puck was sent right to Konrad Sander who was playing defense on the power play. Snader fired a huge slap shot that was perfectly tipped by Kye Benjaminsen in the net, and past Aaron Oakley. The goal came just five seconds after the power play started and 34 seconds after Richmond took the lead. 


Once again though in the last three minutes of the second period Keenan Webb scored his second goal of the game, this time from Brayden Low. Webb cut right in front of the net and Low sent him a tape to tape pass and he fired it past Enegren to send the Sockeyes to the intermission with a 2-1 lead.


This was the third game in a row that Richmond had a one goal lead going into the last twenty minutes, but in game five and six the Ice Hawks tied it with under five minutes to go. Richmond didn`t make the mistake of sitting back on a lead this time though. Patrick Hunter made a nice play bring the puck in on the right boards and just sent a fluttering puck to the net. With the puck laying in the crease Eli Wiebe drove hard as he could and slammed the puck into the net and sent the Sockeyes faithful into frenzy. They finally had a two goal lead in the second period, the only other time they had that was in game four when Siemens scored an empty netter to make it 5-3. 


Yiou can never count out the Ice Hawks though, they kept persisting and once again as Kye Benjaminsen cut to the front of the net he tipped it past Oakley and it became a 3-2 game. 


With relentless action inside the Sockeyes zone it was time for Aaron Oakley to step his game up and thats just what he did. Oakley made some game and possibly series saving saves in the final couple minutes. None bigger than a huge stop on Konrad Sander firing a hard shot that Oakley got with his glove. Time would tick down and after the Sockeyes chipped the puck out of the blue line the buzzer went and they swarmed Oakley`s net. The Sockeyes won 3-2 and won the series 4-3 as they now head to the MSA Arena for the PIJHL against the Abbotsford Pilots. 


All in all this was a fantastic display of hockey from these two teams, just pure excitement from the first puck drop in game one until the last buzzer in game seven. This was showing just what Junior B hockey has to offer and hopefully we will see more of this next round. 


Abbotsford Pilots are next on the list for Richmond, because if they want to go to the Cyclone Taylor Cup, the provincial Championships they have to get past the number one team in the Harold Brittain Conference. You know that their spirits are high as well, especially after coming back from being down in their series 3-1 to the Port Moody Black Panthers. Gmae one will go Friday at the MSA Arena in Abbotsford at 7:30. 


If you can`t make it out to the game you can watch online at SockeyesTV www.richmondsockeyes.ca 


Schedule as follows:


Game 1: Friday       18th 7:30 in Abbotsford (MSA Arena)
Game 2: Saturday   19th 5:45 in Richmond (Minoru Arena)
Game 3: Monday    21st 7:30 in Richmond (Minoru Arena)
Game 4: Tuesday    22nd 7:00 in Abbotsford (Abbotsford Recreation Centre)
***
If Necessary
Game 5: Thursday  24th 7:30 in Richmond (Minoru Arena)
Game 6: Friday      25th 7:30 in Abbotsford (MSA Arena)
Game 7: Sunday     27th 5:45 in Richmond ( Minoru Arena)

Cody Smith and Ice Hawks force game 7 (Series Tied 3-3)

                                    AT                   


Well ladies and gentleman its finally here, game 7. This comes after Cody Smith sent the Ice Hawks into a frenzy when he scored at 6:23 of the first overtime for a 4-3 win. Game seven will now go tonight at the Minoru Arena, where one way or another this series will end.


The Ice Hawks jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the first period with goals from Fidgett and Harding who have played great against the Sockeyes all year. Hamaguchi had the lone Sockeyes goal which came on the power play. 


The second period turned in the Sockeyes favour, Rudi Thorsteinson tied the game on a nice goal set up by Hamaguchi. They weren't done there though, as captain Patrick Hunter came in on a break away after affiliate Dean Allison sprung him and Hunter wired a shot past Enegren. The score after the second period was Sockeyes 3 and Delta 2. 


This would be the second time Richmond held a lead in the third period with a chance to end the series. Game 5 saw Delta tie it in the final five minutes. This time Kye Benjaminsen deflected a shot underneath Oakley for the tie game. What was key from this period was that after Patrick Hunter was slashed by Ryan Cuthbert and the linesman gave him a five-minute major penalty as the referee didn't see the slash. Richmond could not capitalize on the entire time, in fact the Ice Hawks had most of the play down in the Sockeyes zone.


Like usual, this being the fourth overtime game, the score was deadlocked 3-3 and it went to extra time. Jeremy Hamaguchi had a chance to be the hero as he was fed a pass with the net open but couldn't corral the puck.


With just under four minutes left in overtime Liam Harding found Cody Smith as the trailer, and sent him a pass. Smith waited for a few players to screen Oakley and then he fired it in. Ice Hawks jumped over the boards as they would for the first time this series have a chance to end the series themselves in Richmond. 


Game seven goes tonight at 8:15 puck drop. Both teams have the chance to close out the series, Richmond has failed to do that on their last two opportunities, can they do it tonight?


You can also watch the game online at SockeyesTV www.richmondsockeyes.com

3-2 Overtime comeback by Delta forces game 6 (Sockeyes 3-2)

                                     vs                   



In an exciting second overtime finish in game 5 saw the Delta Ice Hawks put themselves right back into the series with a 3-2 overtime win. Liam Harding was the catalyst scoring two goals, the game winner and getting an assist as he lead the Hawks to a comeback from being down 2-0. 


Getting his first goal of the playoffs and starting the Sockeyes off on the right foot was Eli Wiebe. A Connor Wilson shot was not seen by Hawks goalie Nick Enegren, with the puck laying right beside him Wiebe doves in a last ditch effort to poke the puck in and it worked. The puck just barely slid into the net and past the goal line to give Richmond a lead. 


Richmond wasn't done there though, in picture perfect fashion the top line scored a beautiful goal to give the Sockeyes a two goal advantage. The whole line broke in on a three on one and the Ice Hawks defender couldn't handle all of them, Thorsteinson gpt the puck to Hamaguchi and he found Roder wide open on the side of the net. This was a sweet tic-tac-toe goal for a 2-0 lead. 


 With all kinds of chances to extend the lead Richmond threw everything they had at Nick Enegren but they couldn't extend that lead to three goals and it would eventually prove costly. Clayton Wright took a tripping call and Delta went to work on its deadly power play, it came in with a 40% power play. Liam Harding got the puck after a pass from Kye Benjaminsen and he scored with just twelve seconds left in the period. This goal would totally change the outlook of the game.


The second period was all Delta, relentless chances and scoring opportunities but luckily Aaron Oakley played great. holding them scoreless in the period. Richmond's penalty killing came up big, preventing Delta from scoring on two chances as affiliate Dean Allison and goalie Aaron Oakley took penalties. But after the second it was still 2-1 Sockeyes and they were outshooting Delta 20-19.


Richond was just twenty minutes away from making the PIJHL finals, twenty minutes away from facing Port Moody or Abbotsford, Delta had other thoughts. Non stop action inside the Sockeyes zone would eventually turn into a goal for Delta. With the opponents top line on the ice, the Sockeyes went into a defensive lapse allowing them way too much time and space. Harding got the puck to Cody Smith who spotted a wide open Spencer Traher. Traher has been deadly all series long, and with that much time and space he fired a hard shot past Oakley to tie the game in the final five minutes. This was an absolute back breaker as the Sockeyes were so close to winning. With the score tied 2-2 at the final buzzer the game headed to the first overtime.


What else could have been expected from these two fierce competitors? All the Sockeyes would need is that one opportunity to win this series and in the first overtime they had plenty of them. Hamaguchi and Thorsteinson both rang shots off the post. It was absolute relentless back and forth action  for both squads but no goals were scored. 


The second overtime came and it really appeared like this game could go forever. Thorsteinson had another glorious chance he was open in front with Enegren down on the ice, but he sent it over the net. Delta had its chance to, a tipped shot was squeaking to the goal line, but defenceman Turner Popoff dove into the net to stop the puck from crossing it. 


On a sudden Ice Hawks rush up the ice the game would see its final shot. Cody Fidgett spotted Spencer Traher. Traher took a hard shot the hit Oakley' pad, it was a nice save but the rebound spelt doom. Of all the people it went straight to captain Liam Harding and he easily buried the rebound for the 3-2 double overtime win. 


Richmond was not able to shut down that line with Harding and they ran over the Sockeyes. Aaron Oakley still played great stopping 36 shots, but it was a case that Enegren was that little bit better. After he allowed that second goal he simply shut the door and wouldn't allow anything past him, making 39 saves. Stopping countless Sockeyes scoring opportunities. 


This was not only a big win for the Ice Hawks because it forces a game 6, but because Richmond suffered injuries to Goundar and Chichak. This adds to the compounding injuries faced by Ryan Cooper and Drew Spencer as well.


Richmond now faces a surging Ice Hawks team at the Ladner Leisure Centre on Tuesday for game six at 7:30 p.m.  Richond will either close out the series or head back for game seven at the Minoru Arena on Wednesday at 8:15. You can catch Tuesdays game on http://www.deltaicehawks.com at UStream. If there is a game 7 you can watch it on SockeyesTV www.richmondsockeyes.com

Ice Hawks comeback but can't defeat Sockeyes (3-1 Sockeyes)

                                        vs                   

Richmond continued its success winning its second straight game this time they didn't have to go to overtime though as they won 5-3. Rudi Thorsteinson scored the game winner off a nice deflectection in the early second period. Richmond now has an absolute stranglehold on the series with a 3-1 series lead, with the possibility to close it out at home tonight.

It didn't take long for Richmond to get on the board, but it wasn't the top line that got things started, it was Kamesh Goundar. Brayden Low got the puck to Siemens beside the net and he passed it to the wide open Goundar who fired a low shot past Nick Enegren. A flurry of scoring chances came to the Sockeyes but they couldn't capitalize and it would prove costly when Liam Harding stepped on the ice. Harding grabbed the puck at the red line and skated in on a 2 on 1 with Cody Fidgett, he didn't pass though he just ripped a shot past Aaron Oakley's glove.

Under two minutes left in the first period and the Sockeyes got a scoring frenzy, Jeremy Hamguchi got the second goal with just 1:34 left in the 1st. Thorsteinson found him in the slot and he just dangled right around an Ice Hawks defender and scored. Not even a minute later, 51 seconds to be exact, Clayton Wright fired a hard shot that went in and out of Enegren's glove, the puck floated into the net and the Sockeyes lead 3-1.

Richmond started the second just like they ended the first period, scoring 2:19 into the frame. Rudi Thorsteinson who already had a couple assists, got on the scoreboard with a nice deflection goal. He was able to move the puck in a complete different direction and Enegren couldn't adjust to the deflection and it was 4-1 Richmond.

The Sockeyes game play changed quite a bit as they turned more to playing a defensive game, and Delta got more chances because of this. They were getting countless scoring opportunities but it got all turned around after the fourth goal. At 14:52 Spencer Traher sent a behind the back pass to Kye Benjaminsen who just sent a quick shot underneath Oakley. Less than four minutes later the Ice Hawks made a game out of it, Aaron Merrick caught the trailer, Cody Smith pinching in , got him the puck and he also quickly sent a shot behind Oakley. After two periods the Sockeyes lead 4-3 but were being outshot 32-19.

Richmond was now just twenty minutes from taking a big series lead, the Sockeyes put a lot more offensive pressure than they did in the end of the second period. There were many more scoring chances, a couple from Jake Roder including a shot right off the post. After Delta pulled the goalie Keenan Webb shot the puck towards the empty-net but hit the post and had the Minoru Arena gasping for breath. Delta came back down the ice with a couple shots on goal, but after Hunter lost the puck heading for the net, Siemens picked up the puck and put it in the empty-net.

The Sockeyes took a huge game that could have gone either way. Sockeyes only period that they had more shots were in the third, but altogether were outshot in the game 43-32. Aaron Oakley and Nick Enegren didn't have their best game in net, but still managed to stop a bucket of pucks sent at them. This was also Kyzen Loo's first game back since a December 30th 6-2 wn over North Delta Devils. He didn't get much playing time as he was just trying to get his feet back under him. Loo did have a good chance and showed some nice dangle moves like he did earlier in the year.

Tonight's game could send the Richmond Sockeyes to the PIJHL final should they beat the Delta Ice Hawks. With the 3-1 series lead they can close it out at 7:15 tonight at the Minoru Arena, you can also watch online at SockeyesTV http://www.richmondsockeyes.com/

Hamaguchi scores 4-3 OT winner (Sockeyes 2-1)

                                    AT                   


The Richmond Sockeyes won game two by a 4-3 overtime score, that was after they gave up a third period lead. Jeremy Hamaguchi was the hero though, scoring his fourth of the playoffs and sending the Sockeyes back to Minoru Arena win a 2-1 series lead.


Goals were exchanged pretty early on, at the 2:29 minute mark both teams exchanged goals, Brayden Low scored for Richmond. Young defenceman and Chilliwack Bruins prospect Turner Popoff took and interference penalty and the Ice Hawks offence went to work on the power play. Cody Fidgett would score his second goal of the period beating Aaron Oakley for a 2-1 lead after the opening period.


Things started to turn around for Richmond in the second period, as Jeremy Hamaguchi got on the board to tie the game 13:15 into the period. The Ice Hawks made a very sloppy change and Rudi Thorsteinson and Jake Roder took full advantage. They came in on a 2 on 0, Thorsteinson pulled goalie Nick Enegren to the far left side, waited for Roder to get open and sent the puck over with a nice saucer pass. As Roder got the puck he wasted no time and put it in the wide open net for Richmond's first lead of the game. There was a terrific chance to increase the lead when the Sockeyes got a breakaway in the final two seconds but they couldn't slip it past Enegren. 

A terrific show of hockey was put on by Patrick Hunter in the final couple minutes while on a penalty kill. Hunter who is known for being terrific on the penalty kill came up huge after Keenan Webb took a tripping call. The Sockeyes captain was playing with a skip in his step, and sent the puck down the ice, but that wasn't the extent of the penalty kill. While down behind Enegren, he was successfully jamming the puck against the boards, what made it so epic...the fact that four, count em' four Ice Hawks couldn't get the puck away from him. It was a mervelous display of both hockey skill, sense and athleticism. The Ladner Leisure Centre erupted at this show he put on down deep killing twenty-five penalty filled seconds.


It didn't take the Ice Hawks long to tie up the game in the third period, as they scored 1:28 in. Ryan Cuthbert was the goal scorer getting the puck behind Oakley for a 3-3 tie. Delta controlled most of the play from this point on getting chance after chance on the Sockeyes net. Luckily for Richmond the time wound down and they were heading to overtime.


Game 1 was a 4-3 overtime win for the Sockeyes after Rudi Thorsteinson scored the winner, and tonight his line went to work again. There were some scary chances for the Ice Hawks on Oakley but it was Jeremy Hamaguchi who became the hero for Richmond. Capitalizing on some offensive pressure being put on the Ice Hawks, he walked to an open afrea and wired a shot past Enegren for the win.


This was a huge win for Richmond especially after what happened on Sunday in the 6-1 shilacking. Now they are heading back to familiar territory, the Minoru Arena for games four and five., hoping home ice will be a huge advantage. Game four goes at 7:30 in Richmond, you can also watch online on SockeyesTV at www.richmondsockeyes.com 

Ice Hawks crush Sockeyes 6-1 (1-1 Series Tied)

                                         AT                   


After a terrific game at the Minoru Arena last night the Richmond Sockeyes got absolutely shell shocked in Delta against the Ice Hawks in game 2. After a Sockeyes disallowed goal would have made the score 2-1, The Ice Hawks score 5 straight including two shorthand and a power play goal to win by a 6-1 score.


Patrick Hunter got Richmond started off well with a goal from the left circle that beat Nick Enegren to open the scoring at 11:05. But their only lead of the game lasted for 50 seconds as Cody Fidgett tied the game shortly thereafter. 


What was a critical part of that period was missed opportunities, as Richmond hit four posts in the period alone, Thosteinson hit two of them. They could beat Enegren but not the posts, and it would make them pay.


In the second the Sockeyes scored, ironically off of the post...But after it was ruled a goal and the red light came on, the referees discussed it and disallowed it. This was the game folks, after that it became the Ice Hawks show. Spencer Traher then scored for Delta to get their first lead of the game. When Liam Harding got hit in front of the Sockeyes bench, he slashed Ryan Cooper while on the bench, this would have been the time for Richmond to capitalize but it went completely the other way. Spencer Traher scored two shorthanded goals on the one penalty to his team, getting the hat-trick and taking the Sockeyes off their game.


The final period was just as rough for the Sockeyes as the second, Delta score two more goals to finish the scoring at 6-1 Delta. This was the first time all year Aaron Oakley has allowed six goals against. 


A scary situation came late in the third as Ryan Cooper collided with an Ice Hawks forward and laid riving in pain on the ice. It appeared as if he badly injured his leg, meanwhile, Drew Spencer and Michael Ball all left the game as well.


All in all, the Sockeyes have to figure out a way to solve the Ice Hawks penalty killing, they are 1 for 28 all year against them, that's 3.5%. In two games the Ice Hawks have scored three shorthanded goals, proving deadly for the Sockeyes.


Game three goes Tuesday at the Ladner Leisure Centre in Delta, game time is 7:30, and the Sockeyes will look to regain the series lead as they are now deadlocked 1-1.

Sockeyes win overtime thriller 4-3 (Sockeyes 1-0)

                                         vs                   

In what was without a doubt one of the most exciting Junior B games ever played, the Richmond Sockeyes had a huge third period comeback to win by a 4-3 score in overtime. After three straight Ice Hawks goals to the a 3-1 lead, the Sockeyes tied the game in the third to send it to overtime. Where Rudi Thorsteinson once again scored a beautiful goal to give Richmond the 1-0 series lead.

This game was going to be a great one, this series was going to be a great one as the two top PIJHL teams were playing for the Tom Shaw final. 1st place versus 2nd place as these two teams faced off in Richmond at Minoru Arena.

The opening period was a showcase of why these two opponents are the best in the league, there was exciting action up and down the ice. The game got started off with a huge hit by Alex Martin on Kamesh Goundar that laid him out at the right wing boards. Brayden Low with Siemens and Goundar were playing a strong offensive game together, and in turn opened the series scoring. After Goundar pokked the puck to Low, he came in on a 2 on 1 with Siemens, pulled the defensive man over and waited for Siemens to get opened on the far side. Low threaded a beauty pass right to Siemens who potted his third post season goal. After one period of play the Ice Hawks were outshooting the Sockeyes 14-9 but were down 1-0.

The Ice Hawks intensity really started to pick up in the third, they had that desperation look to them. That would all be stopped though as the first penalty of the game went to Dominic Toigo. Or would it? Spencer Traher got out on a break away and shot the puck at Aaron Oakley, he thought the puck had squeaked behind him, and unfortunately it was just laying in the crease and the trailer, Cody Smith scored. He simply grabbed the puck in the crease and shot it past Oakley to tie the game after two periods of play.

All that was remaining between these two teams was twenty minutes of play, it had that appearance like the game could go to ovetime, but the Ice Hawks had other ideas. Delta scored two consecutive goals, Liam Harding finally scored his first playoff goal and Cody Fidgett extended the lead to two goals with under 13 minutes remaining in the game. Kye Benjaminsen was playing solid for Delta registering the only assists on both goals.

At this point with the score 3-1 and the wheels falling off the bus, head coach Judd Lambert pulled a beautiful move calling a timeout to settle down his troops. This proved to be the games turning point, as Richmond made it a one goal game just 1:04 after Fidgett's goal. Jake Roder got a rebound goal from Thorsteinson and Hamaguchi as th top line came through.

The tides had completely turned on Delta, all the offence was in Delta's zone at this point and Nick Enegren was the only thing keeping them in it. But with 5:49 to go in the game, Patrick Hunter tied the game while falling to the ice in Bobby Orr fashion. Just an absolutely huge and crazy goal that erupted the Richmond fans from their seats at the Minoru Arena. The captain had been playing a great game to this point but hadn't found the back of the net, but he solidified his place in the three stars with that goal. Despite frantic action at both ends of the ice the score would remain tied and it headed to overtime.

We could expect nothing less from these two foes, who were playing just absolute beautiful hockey to this point. The puck would drop for overtime and the first great chance went to Delta. Konrad Sander sprung himself for a breakaway but Oakley was there once again to make the stop.

Then came the top line, Thosteinson, Hamaguchi and Roder, cutting in and cycling the puck down deep in the Delta zone. Before you knew it, Jeremy Hamaguchi got the puck to Jake Roder who forced it to Thosteinson. Thorsteinson was able to make a gorgeous move around an Ice Hawks defender, took that little bit of extra time and patience, skated around Enegren and shot home his game winning goal. This was the second game winner in a row for the 18 year old Richmond native.

A story in this game was the superb goaltending by both Nick Enegren and Aaron Oakley. Enegren stopped 38 of 42 shots and make some huge saves especially on a couple two on one saves. While Oakley came out with the win, he made 30 saves, none bigger than a break away in overtime.

The referees were able to call a great game, only three penalties were assessed in the entire time. They only called what was necessary, the best hockey is played 5 on 5 nnd they let them play that way.

This was a fantastic end, to a fantastic game that was without doubt one of the most intense, action packed and entertaining games of all time for Junior B hockey. Just another reminder why if you have the chance to make it out to the Minoru Arena Thursday March 10th at 7:30 for game 4 of this series. You can also watch online at SoxckeyesTV www.richmondsockeyes.com

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