Focused On Winning

Keeping the winning tradition alive means not just out-scoring the opposition by a 14-9 margin but also getting involved in the community which continues both on and off the ice.

Captain  Teo Lin leads by example, reaching out to fans of all ages prior to any game as well  as having his team-mates follow his example.

Sunday’s game saw the Sockeyes travel to Port Moody in a contest that saw the home team grab the opening goal while playing shorthanded only to have Rajan Parmar even the game at one on the Power Play.

This was followed up by the go-ahead marker from Florida’s Beaudy Beaudin giving the Sockeyes a 2-1 lead after one in a period that saw a pair of minor’s to Port Moody and three to Richmond.

The second was scoreless but the third saw a strong start that saw them score a pair with the first from Bryce Strandt followed by an empty net goal from Alaska’s Burke Newton giving the Sockeyes a 4-1 win.

As strange as it sounds the Panthers managed to narrowly outshoot the Sockeyes by a 40-39 margin that saw the visitors unable to score on seven power play chances while the home squad notched one goal on three opportunities.

First star in the contest went to Richmond’s Burke Newton while Richmond’s Mathias Hasselmann was named second while  Jovin Manhas was named third star. 

Next up for the Sockeyes was a home contest that saw last year’s expansion Trailblazers visit the “Fish Tank” in a game that kept the fans entertained in what was best described as a “heated contest” keeping the officials busy.

The Sockeyes scored a pair of markers in the first with Beaudin (7) opening the scoring at 1:08 followed by their second of the game from Nicholas Noren (4) at 17:26 taking a 2-0 lead after one period.

The scoring continued in the second with Soares getting his first at 10:35 of the young season while Kovich (3) put them up 4-0 at 13:12 only to have the Trailblazers grab three in a span of 1:43 making it a 4-3 game.

The third saw the “Fish” not taking the bait, collecting a pair with the first from Noren (5) a short 29 seconds followed by Burke Newton (3) at 3:55 while the visitors Van Straten pulled them within two.

The final goal of the contest saw Noren get his sixth of the season and third of the game at 16:07 allowing the home squad continuing their winning streak in league play.

To no surprise the Sockeyes grabbed all three stars with Nickolas Noren named first star for his three goal performance while Nick Kovich and Beaudy Beaudin were named second and third stars.

The final home game of September was the long-awaited rematch from last year’s April 1st game seven against Ridge Meadows that saw them win the league Championship.

It’s fair to say the day prior the team held a “meet and greet” at Garry Point Park with players and Family members in attendance with the topic of conversation to Monday’s game.

The game was held on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which the Sockeyes and the PJHL fully support knowing that our thoughts are with their loved ones who were lost.

The lead-up to the game for myself and Jag was talking points of playing disciplined, sticking to the game plan and not deviating from the coaches game plan.

Utilizing a four-man officiating crew means that penalties are seldom over-looked that saw the Flames open the scoring on the PP at 8:03 followed by their second a short 1:18 later taking a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes.

The first saw the teams trade penalties while the second saw more of a jump from the Sockeyes managing to even the score at two as Nicholas Noren got them on the board at 11:31 followed by Nathan Gray with his first as a Sockeye at 15:17.

The even-up goal seemed to ignite the Flames who grabbed a pair with both on the PP taking a 4-2 lead to the dressing room noting that goal number four was at 19:56 of the period.

Shots after two saw the Flames hold a slim 26-18 margin with both “tenders” tested close in only to be denied by the steller play of both Flames Candusso and Sockeyes Hasselmann.

The third was a “tight-checking” period with both having several close-n chances that saw several long stretch passes at both ends of the ice.

As much and often as the Sockeyes pounded shots on goal they came up short with the only goal of the third off the stick of Noren at 13:06 pulling them within one.

Each team utilized their time-out that saw the Flames steal a 4-3 win continuing their winning way as the Sockeyes came up just short, but not without a strong fight to the finish.