Sockeyes Season’s End Offers A New Beginning

As one season ends the next begins and as you can imagine it all starts as ownership looks back on the past season that reflects on the overall performance in all areas.

It’s not just the point total at the end of the season but an overall reflection on how the team was built from pre-season to the final whistle at the end of the regular and playoff season that holds everyone accountable.

Season’s end this year saw changes made that serve as a reminder for growth, teaching and overall development for the new players that will be in the line-up at the start of the season.

Training camp was held over the weekend that featured four squads of (roughly) twenty players per squad that could see some make the team while others might attend a WHL camp in hopes of taking their talent to the next level of the game.

Some attended the camp so the coaches can have a look at their skill level knowing that some might be on the roster in a couple of years when they have a chance to perfect their skill level of the game.

Prior to any camp it takes time for ownership and the coaching staff to get a chance to meet with the players attending their camp as well as their Parents to get a better insight on what their goals might be that go beyond camp.

Below is the photo from the day the Sockeyes were first introduced to the media as one of the first teams in the PJHL to officially announce the movement to Junior “A” Tier One which will elevate the team to the next level of the game for everyone.

At this level of the game players are faced to make various choices as what team camps they might be attending as some are by invitation only while others are a “walk-up” to try out and given their skill level they might make the team.

One league that the Sockeyes have their sights set on is the BC Elite Hockey League and we are hearing that they have signed Jonathan Zhang who played last season for the Valley West U17 scoring 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points in only 36 games.

This is only one of the future Sockeyes who will suit up and put his talent level on display at Richmond’s Minoru Arena for the coming season.

As the Sockeyes are still building a team for the coming 2025-25 PJHL season we reflect back on the 1966 Richmond Junior who were a finalist in BC also noting that in 1976 and 1977 the Richmond Rebels won the league championship 

As you can see the longevity and success of the Richmond Sockeyes dates back years that even then were deeply involved in the City of Richmond building the future of the game working with both Richmond Minor Hockey and the now defunct Seafair Minor Hockey who played at one and Francis.

The coming season offers several new and unique ideas that are on the horizon for the Sockeyes which will both embrace and welcome new fans to the “Fish Tank” better known as Minoru Arena.