Fish take out the Steelers

Coming off a loss against the Delta Ice Hawks, the Sockeyes tried to avoid losing back-to-back games for just the second time this season as they hosted the Granview Steelers.

It was a slow start for both teams as players struggled to find their legs early. A penalty to Jordan Hall opened up the game halfway through the period as Troy Kaczynski scored on the power-play. A pretty passing play with Mac Colasimone led to the second goal in under 20 seconds for Kaczynski. The Steelers responded with high physical play, landing multiple huge hits in the final minutes of the 1st. The Sockeyes didn't seem too phased as Quinton Blois netted another goal for Richmond with only 1.3 seconds to play in the period, stretching the lead to three.

Jordan Andrews threw a big hit early in the second along the boards on Lucas Zenone, who was slow to get up. That sparked even more physical play from the Steelers, as they responded with several hits on the Sockeyes captain.

Blois showcased his hockey IQ midway through the period when he out-waited the Steelers defenders behind the net before feeding Brodie Crawford who finished off the brilliant play.

Grandview finally got on the board when a shot from Austin Campeau found its way through traffic to the back of the net to cut the Sockeyes lead back to three.

Grandview started the third period strong, accumulating more shots in the first five minutes of the third than they did in either of the other two periods. Grandview eventually capitalized on their opportunities but Sockeyes responded when Colasimone found Kaczynski who buried his third of the night.

Kaczynski has hat-tricks in back-to-back home games as Sockeyes added an empty netter to knock off the Steelers, 6-2.

- Bailey Meadows

Fish Swim Upstream, Pull Off Huge Comeback

Wrapping up their third game in four nights, the Sockeyes played the Langley Knights for the second time in that stretch on Thursday night. Langley came into Minoru Arena seeking revenge following their 5-3 loss to Richmond on November 3rd, and also coming in on a three-game losing streak.

Rookie Dylan McCann got the Knights off to a strong start with a shot that beat Fish goalie Kurt Russell five-hole just 80 seconds into the game.

The Sockeyes needed a win to force a tie with North Van for the league lead in points, although the Wolf Pack have two games in hand.

After Colin Catchpole put Langley up by two, Troy Kaczynski finished off a 2-on-1 with Tyler Paterson to put the Sockeyes on the board before the period ended.

Russell made his two best saves early in the second period when he followed up a solid kick save with a flashy glove save while sliding to his left. He could only hold off the Knights for so long as goals from Jackson Surbey and Levi De Waal gave Langley a commanding three-goal lead. That spelled the end of Russell's night. He was replaced by Nathan Alalouf a few minutes before the 2nd period expired.

The Sockeyes awoke in the 3rd period, as early goals from Tyler Paterson and Kaczynski put Richmond within a goal.

Alalouf stopped all 11 shots he faced in regulation, his finest coming late in the third when he lunged to his left to deny the Knights on a cross-crease chance. That save proved to be key as Daniel Oakley tapped in a beautiful pass from CJ Young to tie the game with just over two minutes to play.

Alalouf was the star in the first overtime, making seven saves, including a remarkable desperation save on what looked like a sure goal for the Knights.

In the 3-on-3 second overtime, Kaczynski was high-sticked on a breakaway, and was awarded a penalty shot. With two goals on the night already, Kaczynski deked to his right before sliding the puck through the wickets of Nicholas Trenciansky to complete both the comeback and the hat-trick.

Sockeyes started out slow, but finished off strong, winning this thriller of a game.

Final score: Sockeyes: 5 Knights: 4 (OT)

- Bailey Meadows