For the second time this season, the feisty fish proved to be too quick for the desperately hungry bears as the Richmond Sockeyes steamrolled the Aldergrove Kodiaks 8-2.
In the two meetings between the teams this season, Richmond has now marked 15 goals in total against Aldergrove, as they defeated them 7-4 in the third game of the regular season. Daniell Lange lead the boys past their furry foes once again by scoring his second hat trick against the Kodiaks this year.
Richmond came into the game chasing Delta in a four point gap for top spot in the Tom Shaw Conference and the PJHL, as well as looking to gain some momentum back after dropping their last to Ridge Meadows.
Boy, did they ever.
However, midway through the first period, wouldn't you know it, it certainly didn't look like it was going to be that way. Although they didn't get the strong start they continue to lack on home ice of late, the Sockeyes were very much evenly paced with the Kodiaks until they somehow managed to net two past Kootenay Alder to take a 2-0 lead. So many times it feels like now, Richmond has found themselves in the early holes, but just as frequent is their consistency of being able to battle back, and with five minutes left in the period that's exactly what Dean "2 Step" Allison started with his goal. The score stood 2-1 Aldergrove at the end of the first, with the scoring chances and shots on goal staying pretty even (8-6 Richmond), but again - wouldn't you know it - that would all change as quickly as it was established.
The second period was an absolute showcase of hockey fireworks - goals and plays of all different colours and varieties. The Richmond Sockeyes came out like they had quickly put the first behind them and re-focused their energy on reviving the dominant hockey they know they're capable of playing, as well as the 'Ru faithful. They came so quick it was hard to count them - like three quick strikes from a pitcher to strikeout a helpless batter. First, it was Danton Heinen to tie it up. Then, Captain Sam Chichak found himself a loose puck in the slot on the powerplay and wired it by Kodiak goalie Mark Menicucci - the real catapult for the ensuing all out blitz. Lange, Chichak, Lange - just like that and it was 6-2 at the end of the third. Just as quickly as Chichak matched Lange with his second tally of the night, Lange dazzled the Aldergrove defense and easily solved the disheartened Menicucci on a brilliant shorthanded effort that had all of Richmond abuzz. Menicucci was yanked for reliever Cole McInnes, the Kodiaks fatigue was finally starting to show in their second game in as many nights, and the Sockeyes smiled their way into the dressing room in commanding fashion.
In the third, the game started to find its physical edge. As the Sockeyes showed no intention of letting up on the gas, the Kodiaks started to get aggressive at every puck battle. But as this Sockeyes group has shown, their is more than one gear that makes this team go, and they had no problem mixing it up with a pack of fatigued bears. Stephen Campbell and Daniell Lange, with his hatty, added a couple more, but the final exclamation point came on a Dominic Centis hit in the last minute of the game. Right in the middle of the ice up against the boards, Centis caught a streaking Kodiak forward with his head down and gave him an early trick-or-treat ding-dong right to the chest. A little retaliation from Aldergrove, but that was that in a nutshell - the Richmond Sockeyes were allowed to walk all over them. They stamped the final score 8-2 and called it a day.
Brief Game Notes
1. Sockeyes: 2/3 on powerplay
2. Final shot count: 34-32 for Sockeyes
3. Dylan Friel left game in third period
Scratches:
1. Rudi Thorsteinson
Three Stars:
1. Daniell Lange
2. Sam Chichak
3. Danton Heinen
Be sure to catch the next home game vs. Mission City live from the 'Ru next Thursday, November 1st, on www.richmondsockeyes.com. Pre-game 7:20, puck drop 7:30 p.m.
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