Sockeyes blast Kodiaks into 8-2 hibernation loss

For the second time this season, the feisty fish proved to be too quick for the desperately hungry bears as the Richmond Sockeyes steamrolled the Aldergrove Kodiaks 8-2.

In the two meetings between the teams this season, Richmond has now marked 15 goals in total against Aldergrove, as they defeated them 7-4 in the third game of the regular season. Daniell Lange lead the boys past their furry foes once again by scoring his second hat trick against the Kodiaks this year.

Richmond came into the game chasing Delta in a four point gap for top spot in the Tom Shaw Conference and the PJHL, as well as looking to gain some momentum back after dropping their last to Ridge Meadows.

Boy, did they ever.

However, midway through the first period, wouldn't you know it, it certainly didn't look like it was going to be that way. Although they didn't get the strong start they continue to lack on home ice of late, the Sockeyes were very much evenly paced with the Kodiaks until they somehow managed to net two past Kootenay Alder to take a 2-0 lead. So many times it feels like now, Richmond has found themselves in the early holes, but just as frequent is their consistency of being able to battle back, and with five minutes left in the period that's exactly what Dean "2 Step" Allison started with his goal. The score stood 2-1 Aldergrove at the end of the first, with the scoring chances and shots on goal staying pretty even (8-6 Richmond), but again - wouldn't you know it - that would all change as quickly as it was established.

The second period was an absolute showcase of hockey fireworks - goals and plays of all different colours and varieties. The Richmond Sockeyes came out like they had quickly put the first behind them and re-focused their energy on reviving the dominant hockey they know they're capable of playing, as well as the 'Ru faithful. They came so quick it was hard to count them - like three quick strikes from a pitcher to strikeout a helpless batter. First, it was Danton Heinen to tie it up. Then, Captain Sam Chichak found himself a loose puck in the slot on the powerplay and wired it by Kodiak goalie Mark Menicucci - the real catapult for the ensuing all out blitz. Lange, Chichak, Lange - just like that and it was 6-2 at the end of the third. Just as quickly as Chichak matched Lange with his second tally of the night, Lange dazzled the Aldergrove defense and easily solved the disheartened Menicucci on a brilliant shorthanded effort that had all of Richmond abuzz. Menicucci was yanked for reliever Cole McInnes, the Kodiaks fatigue was finally starting to show in their second game in as many nights, and the Sockeyes smiled their way into the dressing room in commanding fashion.

In the third, the game started to find its physical edge. As the Sockeyes showed no intention of letting up on the gas, the Kodiaks started to get aggressive at every puck battle. But as this Sockeyes group has shown, their is more than one gear that makes this team go, and they had no problem mixing it up with a pack of fatigued bears. Stephen Campbell and Daniell Lange, with his hatty, added a couple more, but the final exclamation point came on a Dominic Centis hit in the last minute of the game. Right in the middle of the ice up against the boards, Centis caught a streaking Kodiak forward with his head down and gave him an early trick-or-treat ding-dong right to the chest. A little retaliation from Aldergrove, but that was that in a nutshell - the Richmond Sockeyes were allowed to walk all over them. They stamped the final score 8-2 and called it a day.


Brief Game Notes
1. Sockeyes: 2/3 on powerplay
2. Final shot count: 34-32 for Sockeyes
3. Dylan Friel left game in third period

Scratches:
1. Rudi Thorsteinson

Three Stars:
1. Daniell Lange
2. Sam Chichak
3. Danton Heinen


Be sure to catch the next home game vs. Mission City live from the 'Ru next Thursday, November 1st, on www.richmondsockeyes.com. Pre-game 7:20, puck drop 7:30 p.m.

Sockeyes thrill the 'Ru again, scare off Wolf Pack 6-5

For the second week in a row, the Richmond Sockeyes came out victorious in a barn burning thriller on home ice. Last week it was Hamaguchi's heroics in overtime against Abbotsford, and this past Thursday it was a 6-5 triumph over the North Vancouver Wolf Pack.

Coming into the game, the Sockeyes were riding a four game win streak, as their confidence certainly seemed as strong as it has been all season after knocking off the high-octane Pilots and Delta Ice Hawks in that four game stretch. Thursday night posed a much less fiery matchup on paper - the North Vancouver Wolf Pack stood in third in the Tom Shaw Conference, but weren't hanging on by much as North Delta and Grandview were nipping at their heels in the standings.

One thing all the papers and stats in the world don't tell however, is just how fierce the hate is that stands between the two teams who are very familiar with one another. Last year the Sockeyes beat the Wolf Pack 4-1 in the playoff conference semi-finals, and in the only other game the two teams have met this year one player on each team received game misconducts when all was said and done in the 3-1 Sockeyes win. Thursday night at the 'Ru proved to tell a very similar tale.

In the first period, Richmond came out playing a style of hockey that has become a bit of a trend at home through the first stages of the game - slow. North Vancouver quickly had the edge as they potted two past goalie Payton Lee to take a 2-0 lead. Finally, midway through the first frame, the Sockeyes found the grit and determination that defines them so well and were able to fight back with three consecutive goals of their own. The first came from Stephen Campbell on a beautiful wrap-around effort that really sparked the boys. Dylan Friel continued carried on with altering the momentum by netting one of his own, and then Danton Heinen on the powerplay solidified Richmond's resilient authority. The score stood 3-2 Richmond at the end of the first, although North Vancouver lead the shot count 13-10.

If it was being called like a boxing match and the first round went to Richmond, then the second definitely went to North Vancouver. After feeling as disheartened as they did considering how well they started, the Wolf Pack came all out blitzing in the second period with some new found energy. They quickly re-established their lead by again scoring two quick, consecutive goals - both from the stick of Marcus Houck - putting them up 4-3 and chasing Lee from his net as he got replaced by Kootenay Alder off the bench. But as much as they tried to create separation from the feisty Sockeyes team, Richmond stayed close enough to strike once more before the end of the period. This time it came off the stick of Jordan "Honky Tonk" Andrews, for his first career PJHL goal. 4-4 read the scoreboard at the end of the second, and the way the intensity lingered strongly around the entire arena, there was no chance it was ending that way.

Well, four minutes into the third, and Matt Wagner was the first to answer the bell with his first of the season on a slapper from the point that just beat rookie goalie Anders Ten Vaanholt over the glove. But, hey, the trend of the night was tied scores, and star Wolf Pack forward Spencer Quon quickly kept  it going by providing the game's third tied score of the night at 5-5. By then, the intensity hadn't only reached its peak in terms of goal scoring, but in physicality as well. Both teams were getting chippy and chirpy at any opportunity, as the tight chess match continued to find that last decisive goal. Then, almost on a play that came out of nowhere, Heinen found himself in the slot and unloaded a wrister that just got under the arm of Ten Vaanholt. With a quick tap from Daniell Lange in the crease, the puck was buried and the Sockeyes found themselves again one up on the Wolf Pack, 6-5. The third round clearly went in Richmond's favour as they outshot North Vancouver 13-2 in the final frame and were able to hold on for the excitable W.

What first seemed like a mediocre matchup on paper turned out to be a fantastic hockey game that again, gave Richmond more quality experience in a playoff game-like atmosphere. The team extended its winning streak to five and more importantly, continues to function like a very well oiled machine.


Brief Game Notes:
1. Sockeyes: 1/6 on powerplay
2. Final shot count: 28-25 for Sockeyes

Scratches:
1. Rudi Thorsteinson

Three Stars:
1. Stephen Campbell
2. Spencer Quon
3. Dylan Friel


Be sure to catch the next home game vs. Aldergrove live from the 'Ru next Thursday, October 25th, on www.richmondsockeyes.com. Pre-game 7:20, puck drop 7:30 p.m.

The Sockeyes ground the Pilots in overtime thriller

The Sockeyes have struggled with their starts all season long. With offensive players like Daniel Tait and Rudi Thorsteinson sidelined, it appeared as if it would be another unhurried first period. It was anything but that for the home side, as Richmond found their legs early on in the game. They had great chances to beat Aaron Oakley, but the veteran Abbotsford goaltender stopped all 13 shots he faced in the initial stanza. On the other hand, the young Payton Lee remained mainly untested as he would only face 3 shots in the first. 

The second period saw both teams start out slightly more conservatively. The Pilots picked up their skating, but Richmond held their ground and did not allow many openings. It would be Abbotsford who would score first with a shot from the slot by Chris Vinette that would be partially contacted by Lee, but found enough inertia to get past the red line. The goal came when the Sockeyes were playing their best hockey of the period. The equalizer would come just three minutes after, as the provisional top line of Chichak, Allison and Lawson would all combine for the marker. "2-step" Allison would get the final touch, as he found himself by the crease and poked the puck in from in deep. The Pilots would answer on a play where winger Luke Venema skated on in on the left side, centred a pass that missed a teammate, as well as two Sockeyes, and was received in the deep slot by pinching blueliner Ryan Parmar. He wouldn't forgive as he blasted a slapshot to give Lee no chance. Both teams headed to the locker room with Abbotsford leading and feeling confident to increase their winning streak to 7 straight.

It wouldn't take long for the Sockeyes to ignite the 'Ru, as only 1:02 into the 3rd, the captain Sam Chichak would receive a nice pass from Heinen who would put just enough on it to beat Oakley. This early goal set up an entertaining third period. Both teams played a much more open period, full of hits, end to end action and intensity. The shot total for the period would read 15-15 as the buzzer sounded to extend the match. 

To the delight of the home crowd, it was a short-lived extra period. Perhaps Aaron Oakley's only weakness is his puck handling, and that would fail him at the worst possible time. The Sockeyes dump a puck into the Pilots zone. Oakley was the first man on it. He mishandled the pass and gave it to Allison. He spotted his teammate Hamaguchi who didn't give Oakley time to get back into his net and put the winner away. 

Although it is early on in the season, this game had a playoff feel to it. The tight checking prevented both teams many odd man rushes or breakaways. The chess match, however, provided a different sort of entertainment that gave hockey fans an excitement level that was sustained throughout. 

First Star - Sam Chichak

Second Star - Aaron Oakley

Third Star - Dean Allison

Sockeyes drop first at home, fall 4-0 to rivaled Ice Hawks

The story line had written itself. Thursday night's game at Minoru Arena marked the first time the Delta Ice Hawks and Richmond Sockeyes faced each other this season since the Sockeyes felt the dispiriting defeat dealt from the same hands last season in the playoff Conference Finals.

Richmond fell short 4-2 in the series to Delta, who would go on to defeat the Abbotsford Pilots in the Finals to become crowned 2011-2012 PJHL champions.

At a regular season record of 37-7 last season, best in the league by a few exclamation marks, it comes with no hesitation to say that last year should've been the Richmond Sockeyes' year. And would've been their second time completing back-to-back championships in the last decade.

Instead, it was a bitter pulse that ran through the heart of the Sockeyes team coming into Thursday's matchup, as the should'ves and would'ves still lingered and the feeling of a rivaled defeat took life once again - this time in the shape of a 4-0 demise. The loss also marked their first in regulation time this season, and their first at the 'Ru, which experienced its biggest crowd of the year thus far.

Coming off recent dominant performances including their last, a 6-0 shutout win over Port Moody on Saturday, the Sockeyes were riding a strong wave of confidence, but they met a team in the Delta Ice Hawks who was feeling much the same, and clearly the biggest test for Richmond to date. Both teams came into this one carrying four-game winning streaks.

The beginning of the first period proved trouble for Richmond again, as their issues at home in the opening frame continued. The Ice Hawks jumped on the startled Sockeyes early, using their size advantage matched with their speed to control much of the first period action in the offensive zone. The Sockeyes for the most part looked nervously out of place, struggling to find their feet and proper positioning, which lead to an abundance of issues on the breakout and quickly affected the rest of their game. The Ice Hawks were pressing all period long as Kootenay Alder quickly became the strongest Sockeye force of the night, making stop after stop in desperation of not letting the game slip away early.

Finally, Delta broke Alder on the power play, finishing a beautiful passing display at 15:04. League-leading scorer Anthony Brito, averaging two goals and 3.1 points per game, found an empty net on a nifty tic-tac-toe play assisted by Mak Barden and Aaron Merrick. The entire Sockeye penalty kill was completely broken down by the quick Ice Hawk blitz as they were able to capitalize on their first man advantage of the evening. The Sockeyes were able to generate a bit more offense in the latter stages of the first with a late power play of their own, but it was still no match to the determined play of the proven Delta powerhouse team. The Sockeyes escaped the first period with the one goal deficit, but trailed 18-5 in shots at intermission - a much more telling part of the tale.

The second period began with the Sockeyes on the power play that carried over from the first, but Richmond was again not able to find the jump in their game. The Ice Hawks continued to out-battle and out-work the Sockeyes in the offensive and defensive zones, even on the penalty kill. Their passing was crisp and accurate, while their perpetual physical presence was being felt all over the ice. Again, this time at 6:49 of the second, Delta was able to solve the rock-steady Alder on another brilliant passing play. This time it was Marc Letourneau tapping one in at the side of the net assisted by Tanner Gattinger and Anthony Brito. But again, Alder had no chance as the net was empty for the unmarked Delta forward in behind the Sockeye defense.

Midway through the second, and the heated rivalry was back on the front burner - no question. Rookie Ice Hawks forward Cody Gordon placed a nasty check from behind on Dean Allison up against the boards, as he was a little shaken up. Sockeye defenseman Matt Wagner then got involved in retaliation and both players would take 10-minute misconducts and accompanying two-minute minors. The Ice Hawks were doing a solid job of drawing the Sockeyes into frustration, and then with under one minute to play in the period, the gloves dropped for the first time at the 'Ru this season. Dominic Centis and Ryan Cuthbert, two big defensemen, gave it to each other pop after pop right at center ice. Centis was able to land the last fierce punch, which sent Cuthbert's helmet tumbling to the ice as the crowd was roaring in a frenzy. The period ended 2-0, as the Sockeyes were only able to produce one more shot on goal than in the first - six.

The third period was, in short, a perfect reflection of the first two combined. The Ice Hawks scored two more goals to double their lead, and the physical and positional stranglehold they had on the Sockeyes persisted. The third Delta tally came very early at just 0:39 of the period as Anthony Brito found the back of the net for his second of the night. Gattinger and Letourneau also picked up their second points of the game, drawing the assists. Then, the gloves came off again, as this time Derek Hughes mixed it up with Delta forward Aaron Merrick, however it was much more short lived than the previous tilt. A bit later, at 13:09 and on the power play, the Ice Hawks put away their fourth and final goal, as the second league-leading scorer Mak Barden would join his other teammates with two points on the night by popping one in, assists going to Letourneau and Captain defenseman Alex Martin. And just like that, the Richmond Sockeyes felt their first real test of the season come and go while the bitterness towards their rivaled foes for the outcome of last season lives another day. The Sockeyes record now sits at 5-1-0-1 with 11 points, three back from the Ice Hawks in first place atop the Tom Shaw Conference.

Richmond now travels on the road for two - the first against North Vancouver (3-2-1-0) and the second against Delta (7-1-0-0) for a quick re-match of the spirited 4-0 loss. Then next Thursday, the Abbotsford Pilots (5-1-0-0) are in town for the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Pilots sit atop the Harold Brittain Conference and will surely prove as another sizable test for the Sockeyes early on in this campaign.


Brief Game Notes:
1. Ram Brar back in the lineup
2. Sockeyes: 0/6 on power play
3. Final shot count: 49-18 for Ice Hawks

Scratches:
1. Bret Higham
2. Rudi Thorsteinson

Three Stars:
1. Anthony Brito
2. Kootenay Alder
3. Marc Letourneau


Be sure to catch the next home game vs. Abbotsford live from the 'Ru next Thursday, October 11th, on www.richmondsockeyes.com. Pre-game 7:20, puck drop 7:30 p.m.