A Game Within A Game

Photo Credit REBECCA CHEN (RVC MEDIA)

While the game is played on the ice, there is much that goes on behind the scenes with the coaching staff working on putting a winning game plan together that will advance them to the Provincial Championship.

The PJHL finals was set with the top two teams facing off against each other in a best of  seven games series  considering that both the Ridge Meadows Flames and the Sockeyes have only met once all season.

That contest saw Richmond double up by a 4-2 margin with the contest played in Ridge Meadows that saw Thomas Popa finish with 22 saves on 24 shots in addition to being named the game’s first star.

Despite the win the Sockeyes choose to send Noah Stenvig for the final series while the Flames continue to work Matthew Candusso to ride out the onslaught of shots sent in his direction.

Game one of the championship series saw scoreless until 19:53 when Justin Grant (8) was set up from Zapanta and Bains taking the early lead to the dressing room that saw Ridge outshoot the Sockeyes by a 10-6 margin.

The second was a different period with the Sockeyes assessed four minors with the first on a poorly timed line change that saw Stenvig forced to make a couple of spectacular saves keeping the Flames off the board.

They did get on the scoresheet at 11:45 when Theo Kochan tied the game only to be followed by their second of the game at 18:57 with Josh Bettesworth giving them a 2-1 lead after two outshooting Richmond by a 15-7 margin.

The third saw the Sockeyes Teo Lin tie the game at two that would see the game extend and go to O/T that saw Flames Jack Foster get a PP goal giving the Flames a 1-0 hold in the series and the first loss on home ice since October 2023.

Game two saw the teams return to the “Fish Tank” three days later that would see the Flames again jump out to the early lead while on the ever dreaded PP with Michael McIntyre serving a charging minor giving the Flames a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

The Sockeyes responded at 7:25 with Matthew Stewart tying the game at one only to have the Flame grab a pair with the first at 10:37 while on the PP followed by the second of the period at 15:54 taking a 3-1 lead after two.

The third saw the Sockeyes manage four goals two on the PP with the last at 19:44 being an EN goal that had them tie the series at one heading  to Ridge for game three a short two days later.

Returning to home ice for the Flames proved to be motivation that saw them outscore the Sockeyes by a narrow 2-1 margin after one with each team trading minors as well as have Richmond outshoot the Flames by a 11-10 margin.

The second was more tentative with both teams playing a hard checking contest trading shots at eight each with the Sockeyes still trailing by a 2-1 after forty minutes.

The third again saw a tight checking contest that saw Teo Lin grab a SH goal at 10:50 which would eventually send the game to O/T and eventually two O/T periods.

Both teams entertained the somewhat fair sized crowd that saw both “tenders” making several stellar saves that saw neither team take penalties.

Following a rush into the attacking zone the best chance came off the stick of Teo Lin who had his pass blocked creating a turnover to Flames Captain Lukas Ravenstein who slid it to Theo Kochan who ripped a bullet past Stenvig for the game winning goal.

To no  surprise both Matthew Candusso and Noah Stenvig were second and third stars respectively with the games first star to Ridge Meadows Theo Kochan.

There is no doubt that both coaches are working on a game plan that will prove to be a success and discipline being a key factor in the outcome.

Game four will be a “barnburner” with the Sockeyes looking for a win to even the series and return home for game five Thursday March 28th with the face-off at 7:00 pm.