Sockeyes keep rolling at home, blow away Port Moody

It was the third game in five days for the Sockeyes, who hosted the Port Moody Panthers. The Sockeyes come in boasting the best record in the Tom Shaw Conference at 5-1, while the Panthers arrived in dead last and winless.

The fatigue from their busy schedules seemed to be setting in for both teams early on. The first powerplay for the Sockeyes midway through the period sparked play, as the Sockeyes generated multiple scoring chances on the opportunity. Danny Oakley scored only minutes later at even strength before Mac Colasimone added another one on the Sockeyes second powerplay of the period. Kurt Russell was solid throughout the period, making 13 saves.

Adam Rota got the Panthers on the board in style when he broke past two defenders and beat Kurt Russell for the highlight reel goal to make it 2-1. The Sockeyes, as usual, had an answer as Tyler Paterson scored only seconds later to regain the two-goal lead for Richmond. A goal by C.J. Young right after a power play expired and a dazzling move later in the period by Kaczynski led to a 5-1 lead for the Sockeyes after two periods of play.

The Sockeyes continued their dominance in the third, heavily outshooting the Panthers. Kaczynski appeared to have his second of the night when he tapped home a great pass from Colasimone but the goal was waved off due to the net being knocked off. That didn't stop the duo as Kaczynski tapped home an almost identical goal off a pass from Colasimone only minutes later. Richmond held that lead for the remainder of the game, and Kurt Russell had a spectacular performance, making 26 saves as the Sockeyes cruised to another convincing win at home.

- Bailey Meadows

Sockeyes Send Pilots Flying Back to Abbotsford

The Richmond Sockeyes played the struggling Abbotsford Pilots Thursday night. The Pilots came into the game on a 3-game losing streak while the Sockeyes were just one game removed from the 7-1 thrashing they handed out to last year's PJHL champs, the Aldergrove Kodiaks.

Abbotsford used their physical play to their advantage in the first when a big hit along the boards opened up a scoring chance that Mitchell Plevy capitalized on to give the Sockeyes their first deficit at home this season. That deficit lasted for about 8 seconds as Tyler Andrews rushed the puck in off the opening face-off and shovelled one past Jacob Crawford to tie it up. Troy Kaczynski added his 10th goal of the season only 2 minutes later to give the Sockeyes the lead. Abbotsford Captain Brady Lawlor tied it up later on in the period on a marvellous post-and-in shot. Lawlor later received a checking to the head penalty, and a 10 minute misconduct. Lima scored on a point shot during that power play that found it's way in the goal which allowed Richmond a 3-2 lead after 1 period.

A quick 2nd period tally on the power play from Bissett led to a 4-2 lead, which they held comfortably throughout the bulk of the period. The Pilots strong physical play eventually led to a massive scrum after Paterson was taken hard into the boards. Kaczynski and Lima received penalties for the Sockeyes, while Methorst, Shergill, and Vander Wyk were penalized for the Pilots. The ensuing power play featured a lightning quick shot by Oakley that beat Crawford to give Richmond a 5-2 lead heading into the intermission.

It was a back and forth scoreless 3rd until Oakley threaded a perfect pass to Bissett, who made no mistake burying his 2nd goal of the game. Kurt Russell put an exclamation point on a fantastic night for the Sockeyes with a fantastic left pad save while sliding to his left, one of his 22 saves. Richmond finished the night 3/6 on the power play and 2/2 on the penalty kill as they blew past yet another team at home.

- Bailey Meadows

Bissett, Colasimone Lead Fish to Blowout

Thursday night saw a finals rematch as the Aldergrove Kodiaks visited The 'Ru, and the Sockeyes came in with something to prove after narrowly missing their 4th championship in 6 years.

An early high-sticking penalty by defenceman Jamieson Ree sent the Sockeyes to their first powerplay. A shot from Troy Kaczynski hit a defender in front and found its way to the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Goals from Tyler Andrews and Matt Bissett led to a 3-0 Sockeyes lead and the end of the night for Kodiaks goaltender John Krentz just 5:15 into the 1st. Another goal from Bissett 3 minutes later on goaltender Griffin Baillie put the Sockeyes up 4-0, a lead they held for the remainder of the period.

Inevitably after a high-scoring 1st period, the 2nd period settled down considerably. Sockeye's centre Mac Colasimone broke the stalemate with a nifty move in tight before delivering a crisp backhand shot past Griffin Baillie for the 5-0 goal. Sockeye's call-up Quinten Paille (AP) played solid all night after facing single-digit shots in the first.

As the game wore on, it got progressively more chippy. A couple of early Aldergrove infractions led to 5-on-3's and a pair of goals for the Sockeyes as Bissett scored his third goal of the night and Colasmone scored his second. The Kodiaks added one on the powerplay when Jordan Andrews was called for crosschecking, breaking the shutout for Paille. That was the last of the scoring in this one as the Sockeyes thrashed the Kodiaks 7-1.

- Bailey Meadows