Sockeyes Eliminate PJHL Champs

Photo Credit Richmond Sockeyes

The Tunnel Series as it’s known saw the Richmond Sockeyes eliminate last season’s defending PJHL  the Delta Ice Hawks in game five of the best of seven series advancing to face the Ridge Meadows Flames.

The semi-final series was a tale of two stories that saw both clubs score on both their PP in addition to capitalizing on short-handed goals.

Game five saw Delta start Zach Shaughnessy while the Sockeyes started Noah Stenvig who came into the series in game one and played the remainder of the series helping the Sockeyes to advance to the final series.

The fame for Delta was a win and keep the series going and a loss would see the series return to Ladner for game six which put added pressure on both teams for a win.

Despite the tentative start with neither team scoring in the first it was Sockeyes Mattias Uyeda (2) who opened the scoring at 11:36 in the second followed by the second at 16:04 that saw Nicholas Noren get a shorthanded marker giving the Sockeyes a comfortable 2-1 lead.

Delta responded as “D-man” Tye Hemenway sent a stretch pass to rookie call-up Jack Sears who dished it over to Brandon Petrie (1) who notched a motivation goal with the first coming to an end.

Richmond outshot Delta by a 16-10 margin  and 30-19 after forty minutes that saw Delta return in hopes of returning to Ladner for one extra chance to keep the series alive.

There was no doubt that the pressure was on both teams but more so Delta in a must win period but Richmond had other thoughts of letting that happen.

I continue to mention that penalties play an important role and taking an untimely penalty can change the outcome of the series and when it comes to the final twenty it’s fair to say that there is more pressure on the officials.

Say and think what you might the pressure is clearly on the officials who are well aware of this and that’s why I continue to mention that in all games communication is the key to success for officials and players  alike.

Delta found themselves on the receiving end of a minor penalty giving the Sockeyes a chance to get another marker on the board that saw Mattias Uyeda (3) get his second of the game which proved to be the eventual game winner advancing the Sockeyes to the PJHL Finals.

Delta continued to press, pulling Shaughnessy twice in the dying minutes that saw Paton Hu (4) set up by Carson Merriman and Ryden Mathieson with any additional chances turned aside by Noah Stenvig.

When this series started it was understood that this series wasn’t going to be a sweep by either team given the overall season record for both clubs but mostly Richmond for their consecutive winning streak.

Game stars saw Sockeyes Mattias Uyedn (2G/0), Nicholas Noren (1G/0A) named first and second star respectively with Ice Hawks Payton Hu (1G/0A) named third star in a contest that could have easily have others selected.

Thanks to the Delta Ice Hawks for playing an entertaining series but mostly to the Sockeyes faithful who continue to support the Richmond Sockeyes each and every week.

The next series starts with the first two at Minoru Monday March 18th and Thursday March 21st with both games starting at 7 pm.

Enjoy the run and cheer on YOUR RICHMOND SOCKEYES as they are focused on advancing to the Provincial Championship.