As the PJHL season fast approaches the final week of competition for all fifteen teams some have achieved the success they started last fall while others continue to struggle in various areas.
The last regular season saw the Sockeyes recognize the graduating players along with the Families which was again welcomed by everyone in attendance.
The Richmond Sockeyes continue to play at a high level of competition with the players embracing the change that the coaching staff have worked diligently on.
If you ask any of the coaches they will tell you that everyone has to buy into the system, play as a unit while playing a full sixty minutes with a “one shift at a time” routine.
If you ask any of the players the one game that they never played as a unit was the game against the Knights in a contest that saw them give up five unanswered goals before getting one of their own but dropping the game by a 5-1 margin.
In conversation with some of the players that game was one of their low points of the season which was followed by a hard fought battle against the Steelers, unfortunately coming up short on the scoreboard.
It was back to the basics for their next contest against North Van that saw Max Fowle get the start between the pipes while North Van started Remy Quintoro who was replaced in the mid-part of the second by Shayne Kermany.
Bryce Strand started the scoring off at 16:07 of the first on the power play taking a 1-0 lead to the room after twenty minutes in a period that saw North Van outshoot the Sockeres by a narrow 9-7 margin.
The second saw the Sockeyes get another quick start grabbing three early goals from Alex Kielmann, Dawson Sucke and Burke Newton who assisted on the two previous goals.
North Van’s David Yoon sent one behind Fowle at 13:07 of the middle period only to have Teo Lin and Alex Kielmann get his second of the game while killing a penalty taking a 6-1 lead to the dressing room after 40 minutes.
The third seemed to be a “wake-up” call for North Van that saw them grab two while on the power play, one full strength while the Sockeyes got one in the third.
At times the game got somewhat physical and aggressive but the officials kept control of all “testy” situations when required.
North Van outshoot the Sockeyes by a narrow 39-35 margin that saw Alex Kielmann (2 goals/1 assist) named first star, Burke Newton(1 goal/2 assists) second star and Dawson Sucke (1 goal//1 assist) named third star.
January saw the Sockeyes score 31 goals allowing 29 through the eight games as they set their sights on a productive February with the regular season coming to a close.
January saw the Sockeyes welcome the ever popular Alumni game, a local school band, a group of young female players finishing January with a tribute to the Lunar New Year with a special Lion Dance Performance to the delight of everyone.
The last home game of the regular season saw the Sockeyes host the Coastal Tsunami in a game that went the distance while entertaining the fans with a school band, music bingo which was a “hit” to everyone as well as the good fist-a-cuff for the fans to enjoy.
With the regular season drawing to a close the Sockeyes are again in the playoff hunt for a PJHL championship win.
When you look behind the scenes for the Sockeyes one person who seldom gets recognized is Will Kump, Director of Operations and GM so it’s only appropriate that we wish Will a very Happy Birthday and thank him for all his hard work.
From the way the regular season ends and knowing that the second place plays the forth place it should be the Sockeyes taking on the White Rock Whalers in the first round in the Tom Shaw Conference.
What more can you say – the win was welcomed by Head Coach!!
Stay tuned – the PLAYOFFS ARE AROUND THE CORNER!!!
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