Sockeyes just keep on winning

                                           

Things just keep rolling along for the Richmond Sockeyes lately, they won their 8th straight game on Friday night and have won 24 of their last 26 games. Thanks in large part to their solid offensive play, top to bottom all guns are firing and all lines are rolling...to be cliché.

Their second to last home game was played against the only team to have a winning record versus the Sockeyes. The North Delta Devils came into the game having beaten Richmond three times this year, but this game sure didn't seem like thats how the season series was played. just four minutes into the game the Sockeyes started to take control, Thorsteinson opened the scoring. Roder, Thorsteinson and Hamaguchi are absolutely flying right now, having scored 30 points in just 5 games previous.

Past the midway point of the first period Connor Wilson was able to score his first goal at Minoru Arena since being traded, and then added a helper on Drew Spencer's goal. Richmond would score two more goals thanks to Keenan Webb, and Jeremy Hamaguchi getting on the board. Richmond would go on to win by a 5-0 score. Aaron Oakley made 26 saves for the shutout, his second of the season. Alex Wind started for the Devils but replaced after he allowed 3 goals on 12 shots. Alex Ahnert came in relief, and stopped 27 of 29 shots.

On Friday night the two division leaders were playing each other at the MSA Arena, and the Sockeyes would prove too much for Abbotsford winning 5-1.

Sockeyes would get goals from Patrick Hunter, Rudi Thorsteinson(2), Jake Roder and Jeremy Hamaguchi. All their goals came in the first two periods. Abbotsford would score in the third period to break Aaron Oakleys attempt at two consecutive shutouts.

With the recent success and confidence that the Sockeyes have shown it will be hard for any team to stop the high flying Richmond team. They face the Delta Ice Hawks on Tuesday at the Ladner Leisure Centre. Sockeyes can clinch the PIJHL regular season, and have home ice throughout the playoffs with either a Delta loss or a Sockeyes win.

Minoru arena will host the Squamish Wolf Pack this Thursday in the final regular season home game. You can watch online at SockeyesTV, 7:15 pre-game and 7:30 puck drop.