Graduation Day For Five Sockeye Players

Photo Credit Owen Norman-Laver

The final regular season game for five players was more like the long and winding road that finalized their Junior career with the Richmond Sockeyes in addition to celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year.

Pregame festivities that saw Callum Lind, Justin Grant, Justin McKnight, Gavin Bains and Captain Matthew Stewart all in their final season as a Richmond Sockeye acknowledged prior to puck drop.

The graduating players were joined on the ice by Doug Patterson as well as their Family members and thanked the Sockeyes organization for their professionalism in the ceremony.

Callum Lind is in his 4th season in the league and was acquired last season in a trade with the Abbotsford Pilots and played in 122 games scoring 57 points.

Justin McKnight is in his 3rd season and recently returned from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and has played 95 games with the Sockeyes finishing with 28 points.

Gavin Bains is in his 4th season joining the Sockeyes from the Ridge Meadows Flames winning the PJHL Most Improved plates last season scoring 144 points in 136 games and is ranked 9th in all time points for the Sockeyes.

Justin Grant sits second in league scoring with 75 points this season and in his third season with Richmond and is 14th in all time points by a Sockeye player 

Team Captain Matthew Steward is in his 4th season with the Sockeyes after making the move from the Greater Vancouver Canadians and has played 103 games collecting 95 points and is dedicated to working in the community.

Following the on-ice presentation there was a group photo and given the teams current winning streak Mission were looking at erasing and spoiling the party.

To no surprise Mission started Max Fowle between the pipes while the Sockeyes utilized the talent of Thomas Popa.

Call it nerves or added pressure it was Mission’s Owen Elson who opened the scoring a short 1:05 into the game that had many pondering what the outcome would be.

In any conversation with the players there is no such thing as losing focus and while it took a while Sockeyes Rajun Parmar (5) who pulled the team even at 12:50 followed by one while on the PP from Captain Matthew Stewart at 17:50 taking a 2-1 lead to the dressing room after one.

The second continued to be a fast paced match-up that saw Nicholas Noren (34) make it a 3-1 game at 4:44 in followed by the second of the game from Captain Matthew Stewart at 7:31 holding a 4-1 lead

Mission continued to press, getting their second of the game a short 30 seconds later making it a 4-2 contest with the second winding down in a period that saw three minors assessed, two to Mission and one to Richmond.

The third was a fast paced period which neither team scored all to the heroics of both “tenders” who put on an impressive display in the blue paint which had many on the edge of their seats wondering who would get the next goal.

To no surprise Richmond dominated in the shot department outshooting Mission by 46-21 over sixty minutes while Mission were unable to score on the six power play chances they had while the Sockeyes were 1-3 in the PP chances they had.

In addition to putting on a stellar display of talent on the ice the fans were treated to a first period intermission featuring the Lunar New Year Chinese Lion and Dragon Dance featuring the Vancouver Chinese Lion & Dragon Dance Team.

Just when everyone thought it was over the Dragon made their way through the stands entertaining everyone on hand having an impressive following from many of the youngsters in the crowd.

Three Stars in the game were Matthew Steward (2G/0A) first star, Justin Grant (0G/2A) and Outlaw’s David Stepputat (1G/1A) named third star.

Two nights later the Sockeyes faced the Port Moody Panthers in the final regular season game pulling out an impressive 9-6 win with Oliver Read between the pipes where he faced 36 shots while Panthers Ty Angus stopped 33 of 36.

Richmond has the week off to prepare for PJHL Playoff action and currently wait to see who they will be facing in the first round.

Thank you for your continued support of the Richmond Sockeyes and we look forward to seeing you at “The Fish Tank” for exciting PJHL Playoff action.

Special “THANKS’ to our Graduating players as they move forward in their career!