Thursday, March 13, 2014

5 goal third period comeback leads to 8-6 Sockeyes win(Sockeyes win series 4-0)

This was without doubt the most entertaining, exciting, crazy, unbelievable game the Sockeyes have played all year. The Richmond Sockeyes were able to overcome 4-1, 5-2 & 6-3 deficits and score 5 unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the North Vancouver Wolf Pack 8-6 and take the Tom Shaw Finals series in a 4 game sweep.

Richmond has found ways to claw back in many games this year, but this one was the craziest. This game saw the return of Kootenay Alder after serving his 9 game suspension. He was a bit rusty to start the gave and he got pulled after letting in 5 goals on 17 shots. Kurt Russell had a late penalty shot goal in the third period to send Richmond to the dressing room after the second period with their heads hung low. But this is no ordinary Sockeyes team, this is a team which only lost 5 regulation games all year. Richmond came out firing on all cylinders to start the Third period. Richmond scored 3 goals in under a minute and a half to tie the game 6-6 with 14 minutes to go in the third period.

 Alder had replaced Kurt Russell to start the third period and he made a huge save when the score was 6-6. This allowed Richmond to breakout and Cole Plotnikoff wired a beautiful shot over the Wolf Pack netminder to give them their first lead of the game with 10 minutes left. Matthew Bissett would add another and the Sockeyes would run out the clock to claim their third Tom Shaw victory in the past 4 seasons. This truly was an absolutely unbelievably entertaining game by a team that showed true, heart, teamwork and resiliency.

A huge congratulations to the North Vancouver Wolf Pack on their season as they fought hard against the Sockeyes all series long. the first three games were all decided by one goal and two of them were in overtime. Either team could have taken this series.

The Sockeyes have no easy task ahead of them as they will have a short break before their first game against the Harold Brittain conference champion Aldergrove Kodiaks(defeated the Abbotsford Pilots 4-1 in Harold Brittain final). This is a rematch of last years PJHL final which saw the Sockeyes skate away with a 4-0 series sweep. This championship series will be much different, the Kodiaks team this year is extremely talented with numerous offensive weapons. Richmond will have to be on their a-game all series long to defeat the Kodiaks. The PJHL final schedule will be posted soon.




Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Sockeyes win 4-3 in OT as Scobie nets two goals and the game winner(Sockeyes lead series 3-0)

Michael Scobie had one heck of a game for the Richmond Sockeyes as he scored two goals and had the game inner in double OT to lift the Sockeyes to a 4-3 game three win. Richmond will now have a chance to sweep the North Van Wolf Pack on Wednesday in North Van as the Sockeyes now have a 3-0 series lead. The series has been much closer than the series would indicate as all three games have been decided by a 4-3 score, two of them in overtime. Kurt Russell made 36 saves for his 9th straight win and 7th straight post-season win. Anders Ten Vaanholt replaced Braden Krogfoss in game three and he made 40 saves on 44 shots. Richmond will now look to head to their second straight PJHL final with a win over North Van at the Harry Jarome arena March 12th at 7pm.


Sunday, March 9, 2014

Sockeyes win a tight game in North Van 4-3(Sockeyes lead series 2-0)

The Richmond sockeyes had a tremendous first period scoring 3 goals, 2 of them off turnovers and were able to pick up one more in the second period in order to skate away from the Harry Jarome Arena in North Vancouver with a 4-3 win. North Van had a lot of great chances in the third period including a disallowed goal but it just wasn't enough as Richmond held on for the 2-0 Series lead. Liam Lawson scored the game winner and Kurt Russell made 26 saves and won his 8th straight game and sixth straight in the post-season. Richmond also got goal from, Oakley, MacDonald and Wesley. Richmond will now play game three at home at the Minoru Arena Sunday March 9th at 6pm and will try to take a stranglehold on the series.