If last week's home win wasn't impressive enough, the home crowd at Minoru Arena were certainly treated like royals last night with the offensive brilliance the Richmond Sockeyes demonstrated in their 8-1 win over the slumping North Delta Devils.
The win improves the high-flying Sockeyes to 4-0-0-1 on the season as they leapfrogged the Delta Ice Hawks in the standings to take sole possession of first place in the Tom Shaw Conference and the PJHL. The only loss suffered so far this season came to the hands of the same North Delta Devils, who are now riding a two game losing slide after dropping their last two games in as many nights.
Considering the Sockeyes had a full week off in preparation for the Devils, the team came out of the gate with a shaky start and the young Devils squad was able to sustain much of the early pressure. Half way through the period however, the tables turned as rookie Daniell Lange was able to squeak one past Devil goaltender Tyler Read's legs from an awkward angle in the corner. And just like that, the flood gates would open. Daniel Tait dazzled once again with a mind-melting individual effort splitting the Devils defense only to make goalie Read look just as out of place, deking and going top corner post and in. Then, on the power play, the dangerous line of Chichak-Tait-Allison prevailed again as Dean Allison ripped a beautiful slapshot from just inside the blueline right past Read. The 'Ru was well alive and so were the Sockeyes as they held a 3-0 lead at the end of the first.
In the early stages of the second period, the gas peddle really hit the floor, as coach Aaron Wilbur had his boys firing on all cylinders. Captain Sam Chichak would finish a nice little passing play by finding an empty net to improve the lead to four, and ultimately chase Read from his net. The Devils completed a goalie change by entering rookie Justin McClelland into the game. He only lasted a matter of minutes in the already exhausted North Delta Devil net as he would allowed three quick ones: Lange once again, call-up Liam Lawson with his first goal in the PJHL, and Tait with his second as well, on another dandy backhand shot placed top corner "where the spider knits his web." That was that - Tyler Read was brought back to relieve McClelland. The Devils were able to put one past the solid Kootenay Alder before the end of the period, but the damaged had been done and the Devils' fatigue was finally starting to show. The Sockeyes held a 7-1 lead.
In the third, the frustration from the Devils also grew eminent. The game started to get more physical as the Sockeyes tightened up on an already dominant defensive performance to close it out. The North Delta team could get nothing going but essentially get chippy and at other times a little too undisciplined. Chichak would pot another, barely putting the dagger in the coffin - this one was done long before the third period buzzer. With the 8-1 thrashing, the Richmond Sockeyes remain undefeated at home.
The Sockeyes now go on the road for one against Port Moody on Saturday, and return home to take on the Delta Ice Hawks next Thursday, which should be their biggest test so far this season.
Notable Absences
1. Ram Brar continued to nurse a right hand injury.
2. Bret Higham sat out with mild concussion symptoms.
3. Dominic Centis was a healthy scratch.
Three Stars
1. Dean Allison
2. Daniel Tait
3. Daniell Lange
Be sure to catch the next home game vs. Delta live from the 'Ru next Thursday, October 4th, on www.richmondsockeyes.com. Pre-game 7:20, puck drop 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Tait, Chichak lead Sockeyes to 5-1 victory over Port Moody
It was an impressive offensive display at Minoru Arena Thursday night, as the Richmond Sockeyes delivered a barrage of shots on Angus Redmond's goal right from the first period, and did not stop until the final horn.
Coach Greg Harding sent his troops with an offensive mentality right from the start. Their plan was evident from the initial faceoff. Skate hard and don't allow the opponent to get out of their zone. The score after one period was 1-0 for the home side, but the game tale could be told from the board displaying the shots on goal. It read 26-9 after the opening period. Port Moody goalkeeper Angus Redmond needed to be sharp to keep the home team's lead within reach. The goal was score by Dean Allison, when he found the puck after an exceptional feed from captain Sam Chichak.
The second period was much of the same. The Sockeyes were once again the aggressors and did not let up offensively. Dean Allison returned the favour to his captain who received a great feed and beat Redmond to make it 2-0. Payton Lee faced few chances in the opening 30 minutes, and although he made the saves he needed to, he looked cold at some points. The lone goal by the Panthers came in that 2nd period after a bad turnover from the Sockeyes ended up as a one-timer from the slot giving Lee little chance.
Dan Heinen and Chichak added goals. 18 year old speedy winger Daniel Tait stood out with his speed and great vision. The second year Sockeye added a goal, plus three assist to earn the first star.
Mico Dragutinovic had impressive moments for the Panthers, but could not manage to get much success in beating Lee. He was a stand out for the away team with his impressive ability to possess the puck, but struggled to get any real scoring opportunities. He was held to a secondary assist on the lone Port Moody goal.
Two notable absences for the Sockeyes were Rudi Thorsteinson (tonsils) and coach Aaron Wilbur, although coach Harding did a great job shuffling his lines and coming up with a gameplan.
Richmond now has a week off and will await the last place team in the Tom Shaw conference; The North Delta Devils. That game goes at 7:30PM at Minoru Arena on Thursday, September 27th.
Three Stars:
1. Daniel Tait
2. Angus Redmond
3. Dean Allison
Coach Greg Harding sent his troops with an offensive mentality right from the start. Their plan was evident from the initial faceoff. Skate hard and don't allow the opponent to get out of their zone. The score after one period was 1-0 for the home side, but the game tale could be told from the board displaying the shots on goal. It read 26-9 after the opening period. Port Moody goalkeeper Angus Redmond needed to be sharp to keep the home team's lead within reach. The goal was score by Dean Allison, when he found the puck after an exceptional feed from captain Sam Chichak.
The second period was much of the same. The Sockeyes were once again the aggressors and did not let up offensively. Dean Allison returned the favour to his captain who received a great feed and beat Redmond to make it 2-0. Payton Lee faced few chances in the opening 30 minutes, and although he made the saves he needed to, he looked cold at some points. The lone goal by the Panthers came in that 2nd period after a bad turnover from the Sockeyes ended up as a one-timer from the slot giving Lee little chance.
Dan Heinen and Chichak added goals. 18 year old speedy winger Daniel Tait stood out with his speed and great vision. The second year Sockeye added a goal, plus three assist to earn the first star.
Mico Dragutinovic had impressive moments for the Panthers, but could not manage to get much success in beating Lee. He was a stand out for the away team with his impressive ability to possess the puck, but struggled to get any real scoring opportunities. He was held to a secondary assist on the lone Port Moody goal.
Two notable absences for the Sockeyes were Rudi Thorsteinson (tonsils) and coach Aaron Wilbur, although coach Harding did a great job shuffling his lines and coming up with a gameplan.
Richmond now has a week off and will await the last place team in the Tom Shaw conference; The North Delta Devils. That game goes at 7:30PM at Minoru Arena on Thursday, September 27th.
Three Stars:
1. Daniel Tait
2. Angus Redmond
3. Dean Allison
Friday, September 14, 2012
Sockeyes win their 2012-13 season opener 5-3 over Grandview
During the pre-game show, first year coach Aaron Wilbur said that the expectation for this team is to always win. That is exactly what the Sockeyes did to kick off their 2012-13 season at Minoru Arena Thursday night.
The expectation was for the Sockeyes to come out energized for the first period after the opening night ceremony, but that was far from the truth. The Grandview Steelers were the aggressors in the opening period as they were the faster team, forechecked aggressively, and caused turnovers in the Sockeyes' zone. That's exactly what they'd do to find their first goal as the first period would end 1-0 for the away team.
Coach Wilbur got his team re-grouped in the locker room during that intermission as the Sockeyes came out with a different attitude in the second period. They drew penalties, found their legs, and it was them that were the aggressive forecheckers. Chichak scored the first goal for the Sockeyes to even it up. Richmond would not look back from that point. They would go on to dominate that period and score 4 unanswered goals in total to give them a 4-1 early in the third.
After trading goals in the first half of the third, the Sockeyes showed composure as they contained heavy pressure by Grandview in the second half of that period. They continued to create turnovers and even create scoring opportunities late in the game, taking any momentum away from the Steelers. The game ended at 5-3 for the home side.
Three Stars:
1. Justin Lachance
2. Scott Wessa
3. Kootney Alder
Next game: Saturday, September 15th at North Delta
The expectation was for the Sockeyes to come out energized for the first period after the opening night ceremony, but that was far from the truth. The Grandview Steelers were the aggressors in the opening period as they were the faster team, forechecked aggressively, and caused turnovers in the Sockeyes' zone. That's exactly what they'd do to find their first goal as the first period would end 1-0 for the away team.
Coach Wilbur got his team re-grouped in the locker room during that intermission as the Sockeyes came out with a different attitude in the second period. They drew penalties, found their legs, and it was them that were the aggressive forecheckers. Chichak scored the first goal for the Sockeyes to even it up. Richmond would not look back from that point. They would go on to dominate that period and score 4 unanswered goals in total to give them a 4-1 early in the third.
After trading goals in the first half of the third, the Sockeyes showed composure as they contained heavy pressure by Grandview in the second half of that period. They continued to create turnovers and even create scoring opportunities late in the game, taking any momentum away from the Steelers. The game ended at 5-3 for the home side.
Three Stars:
1. Justin Lachance
2. Scott Wessa
3. Kootney Alder
Next game: Saturday, September 15th at North Delta
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