Friday, October 31, 2014

Sockeyes Quench Flames

Having allowed 13 goals in their last three games, the Sockeyes looked to tighten up defensively in a game against the visiting Ridge Meadows Flames.

It didn't go off to a great start early as Jonathin Weloy scored for the Flames after a broken play in the Sockeyes zone just over three minutes into the game. Sockeyes responded midway through the period after a great offensive shift for the Sockeyes ended with the 2nd goal of the season for Evan Thomas. Sockeyes poured on the pressure late in the period despite taking the only three penalties of the period, racking up five shots in the final three minutes. The last of those five shots found the back of the net, as Daniel Oakley put one home with 16 seconds remaining in the period to put the Sockeyes up a goal heading into the first intermission.

The Sockeyes began the 2nd period with more penalties, their 4th, 5th, and 6th consecutive infractions. Fortunately their penalty kill outweighed their discipline as they killed off both to retain their one-goal lead. Sockeyes held a one-goal lead after 40 minutes, despite playing 12 of those minutes with only four skaters.

The newly-formed line of Bissett-Oakley-Thomas continued their dominance in the third. Kurt Russell was spectacular throughout, but he was at his best during the final minutes, making a glove save on a shot that was labeled for the top-right corner before an equally impressive left pad save. That bought the time for Tyler Andrews to bury an empty-net goal to put the game away.

Sockeyes overcame being shorthanded eight times to grind out a 3-1 win. Sockeyes head to Langley November 3 to play the Knights. That game will kick off a four day stretch in which the Sockeyes play three games, ending off next Thursday hosting the Knights.

- Bailey Meadows

Friday, October 24, 2014

Outlaws Upset Fish at the 'Ru

The Sockeyes battled the Mission Outlaws at Minoru Arena Thursday night. Coming off a disappointing 3-2 overtime defeat against the North Van Wolf Pack last Saturday, the Sockeyes were trying to avoid dropping back-to-back games.

Richmond's power-play continued its success early when Troy Kaczynski found the back of the net just four seconds into their first man-advantage of the game. Kurt Russell had a strong period, making ten saves in the first to keep the Sockeyes up a goal after 20 minutes.

Kaczynski created a turnover in the first minute of the 2nd before dishing a pass cross-crease to Tyler Paterson who scored to put the Sockeyes up by two. Bryce Phenix made a couple of huge glove saves to keep his team in the game. That proved to be the spark the Outlaws needed. Teams traded goals before a long-range wrister found a way past Russell onto the goal line before it was jammed home to pull the Outlaws within one. Outlaws took full advantage, scoring another two goals on Russell before Nathan Alalouf came in. The goaltending change seemed to change nothing as the Outlaws quickly tallied once more before the period ended to shock the Sockeyes and take a 5-3 lead.

Sockeyes came out looking to regain control of this game, but Phenix shut the door early in the period for the Outlaws. That bought enough time for the Outlaws to go up 6-3 on a goal that snuck under the arm of Alalouf. Kaczynski brought the Sockeyes within two when he scored his second goal and third point of the night. That was as close as the Sockeyes would come as they lose back-to-back games for the first time this season, despite outshooting Mission 34-27.

The Sockeyes will try to get back into the win column on Saturday when they visit the Port Moody Panthers.

- Bailey Meadows

Friday, October 10, 2014

Sockeyes Blast Panthers Again

The Sockeyes played host to the Port Moody Panthers Thursday night. A win for the Sockeyes would tie them for first place in the league, while the Panthers are still seeking their first win of the season.

The first period was similar to how the Sockeyes open nearly all of their games; controlling play. Panthers goaltender Spencer Kozlowski had to be sharp in the period to stop the barrage of Sockeyes shots throughout the period. After a quality scoring chance for the Panthers that rang off the crossbar, Matt Bissett finally beat Kozlowski on a jam play in front of the net. Kozlowski managed to stop all but one of the 17 shots he faced in the first period to keep his team in the game.

The Sockeyes finally began converting on some of their scoring chances in the second period. Bissett found the back of the net again, this time on the power play, and Paterson scored minutes later to give the Sockeyes a commanding 3-0 lead. Panthers Captain James Jerczynski tripped up Bissett later in the period which led to the first career goal for Ryan Jones (1/10/11). Tyler Andrews tripped up his man while already on the penalty kill, and the Panthers capitalized on the ensuing 5-on-3 to cut the Sockeyes lead to just three heading into the final period.

Tyler Andrews blasted a shot top shelf to open the third period, regaining the four-goal lead under a minute into the period. They did not stop there, as Blois and Kaczynski scored in rapid succession to put the game even farther away. The Sockeyes cruised the rest of the way, winning by a score of 7-1. The Panthers plummeted even farther into the league's basement, while the Sockeyes were reinstated to first place in the PJHL.

Friday, October 3, 2014

Wolfpack End Sockeyes' Home Win Streak

The Richmond Sockeyes took on the North Van Wolf Pack in a highly anticipated match-up Thursday night. With both teams tied at a league-leading 12 points, the winner of this game would claim lone possession of first place in the PJHL.

The Sockeyes struggled to find their stride in the first period as the Wolf Pack controlled play early on. Nathan Alalouf was sharp in the opening minutes to keep it scoreless, as the Sockeyes skaters struggled to maintain possession of the puck. A power play later on in the period gave the Sockeyes some life, as a beautiful passing play from Richmond's top unit was finished off by Tyler Andrews to open the scoring. Brodyn Neilsen finally capitalized on one of the Sockeyes many first period turnovers when he snapped one past Alalouf glove side to tie the game. North Van continued to press but Alalouf held the game even with a pair of fabulous toe saves in the final moments of the period.


Both Alalouf and Wolf Pack goaltender Nicholas Anderson had to make some tough stops early, as turnovers plagued both teams early in the period. The physical play picked up as the period wore on, with the Sockeyes collecting two more powerplays, but were unable to convert. Daniel Oakley finally claimed the lead for the Sockeyes when he banged home a rebound in the crease of Anderson for the tally. That was the difference maker as the Sockeyes held a 2-1 lead after two periods, backed by superb net-minding from Alalouf.

The final period started with high intensity and strong physical play from both teams. Some fantastic hand-eye coordination by Mitchell Crisanti to bat a puck out of the air past Alalouf. The refs made no initial call on the play, but eventually ruled it a goal, which sparked anger from the Sockeyes bench. Daniel Tait tallied for the Wolf Pack later in the period to send the Sockeyes to their first 3rd period deficit at home this season. The Sockeyes pressed hard for an equalizer in the final minutes, but a Troy Kaczynski shot off the crossbar was as close as they would come as the Sockeyes lost their first game at home this season; a narrow 3-2 defeat.

- Bailey Meadows