The Richmond Sockeyes came into Thursday night's game vs. the North Vancouver Wolf Pack outscoring their opponents 33-8 on their six-game winning streak. Once all was said and done, they only added to that total in prolific fashion, making quick work of the woeful Wolf Pack in a 8-1 victory.
It all started just about two minutes into the game when red hot Jake Roder, with eight points in his last three games, harmlessly through a wrist shot on North Vancouver goaltender Braden Krogfoss to find the back of the net. The Sockeyes pretty well controlled the momentum from that moment on, and just five minutes later, another "Red Line" member would strike. This time it came off the stick of Rudi Thorsteinson on a wide open chance created by the perfect feed from Adam Nishi, whose quickly turning into a powerplay specialist. After the first, the score stood 2-0, with the shots on goal also favoured in Richmond's way, 14-7.
Although the Wolf Pack had done a reasonable job of containing the high-powered Sockeyes offense through the first twenty, it certainly felt like it was only a matter of time before the seams busted loose on all fronts. The second frame was nothing short of an all-out assault, as the goals started to come in bunches. First it was Scott Wessa, big stay-at-home defenseman, with only his second goal on the year, followed by rookie phenom Danton Heinen and then the veteran Jeremy Hamaguchi with two of his own. The Sockeyes completely took over the game, leaving the Wolf Pack exhausted in the rearview mirror while they enjoyed the ride in the very comfortable front seat they've started to grow accustomed to. After the second Hamaguchi goal, rookie goalie Krogfoss was chased from his net and replaced by another freshman, 5'7" Anders Ten Vaanholt. Nothing was going the Wolf Pack's way, both offensively and defensively, they were being outmatched enormously. It was 6-0 after the second.
In the third, the tale continued and the long night for North Vancouver didn't get any easier. For a second, they found a glimpse of light as Taylor Tanti managed to pop one past Kootenay Alder to close the gap. But at that point, the gap was much too cumbersome to the troubled visitors. Richmond picked up were they left off in the second, and continued to prove with authority why they're number one in the league. Both coming on the powerplay, Hamaguchi would his third of the game for the natural hat trick and captain Sam Chichak would chip in with one of his own to close it out. Like it was never a doubt, the Richmond Sockeyes steamrolled their way to their seventh consecutive win to extend their streak. For the second straight week at home, Richmond chased their opponent from the 'Ru, feeling utterly deflated and embarrassed: 8-1 final.
Brief Game Notes:
1. Sockeyes: 3/4 on the powerplay
2. Final shot count: 38-22 for Sockeyes
3. Fifth victory over North Vancouver this season - haven't lost to Wolf Pack yet
Scratches:
1. Derek Hughes
2. Liam Lawson
3. Bret Higham
Three Stars:
1. Jeremy Hamaguchi
2. Jake Roder
3. Rudi Thorsteinson
Be sure to catch the next home game vs. North Delta live from the 'Ru next Thursday, January 17th, on www.richmondsockeyes.com. Pre-game 7:20, puck drop 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
The Sockeyes start 2013 with a big win
The Richmond Sockeyes are starting 2013 they way they ended 2012 - with plenty of scoring, intensity and physicality. The team played one of their more complete games of the season Thursday when they beat the Mission City Outlaws by a 9-1 margin.
Just 25 seconds into the game, the captain Sam Chichak opened up the scoring when he received a feed from Dean Allison, and roofed his first shot of the new year. The Outlaws caught the Sockeyes off-guard as just 10 seconds later their leading scorer Danny Hall put home his 7th goal of the season. The tie would be short lived at just 6:32 into the game the big line of Tait, Chichak and Allison would strike again - this time it would be Tait scoring a beautiful goal that beat rookie goaltender Alexander Orth. Jake Roder would close out the scoring in the period by continuing his consistent play since returning to the Sockeyes. Roder now has 6 points in his first 4 games back.
The second and third periods featured much of the same. The Sockeyes got goals from each of their four forward lines, as well as a couple from the backend. Daniel Tait would add his second of the game just 19 seconds into the second period after Richard Moul lost control of the puck, and the speedy winger was there on the forecheck to steal the puck and finish with authority on the breakaway. Higham, Hamaguchi, Lange added the rest of the goals by the forwards. Meanwhile Centis and Trevor Stack got goals from the defense.
From the goaltending of William Latimer, to the responsible defensive plays by the blueliners, and the scoring prowess of the forwards, the Richmond Sockeyes were firing in all cylinders. The positive start to 2013 has the fans believing this team could once again raise a few more banners at the end of the season.
Three Stars:
1. Daniel Tait
2. Sam Chichak
3. Daniell Lange
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