The story line had written itself. Thursday night's game at Minoru Arena marked the first time the Delta Ice Hawks and Richmond Sockeyes faced each other this season since the Sockeyes felt the dispiriting defeat dealt from the same hands last season in the playoff Conference Finals.
Richmond fell short 4-2 in the series to Delta, who would go on to defeat the Abbotsford Pilots in the Finals to become crowned 2011-2012 PJHL champions.
At a regular season record of 37-7 last season, best in the league by a few exclamation marks, it comes with no hesitation to say that last year should've been the Richmond Sockeyes' year. And would've been their second time completing back-to-back championships in the last decade.
Instead, it was a bitter pulse that ran through the heart of the Sockeyes team coming into Thursday's matchup, as the should'ves and would'ves still lingered and the feeling of a rivaled defeat took life once again - this time in the shape of a 4-0 demise. The loss also marked their first in regulation time this season, and their first at the 'Ru, which experienced its biggest crowd of the year thus far.
Coming off recent dominant performances including their last, a 6-0 shutout win over Port Moody on Saturday, the Sockeyes were riding a strong wave of confidence, but they met a team in the Delta Ice Hawks who was feeling much the same, and clearly the biggest test for Richmond to date. Both teams came into this one carrying four-game winning streaks.
The beginning of the first period proved trouble for Richmond again, as their issues at home in the opening frame continued. The Ice Hawks jumped on the startled Sockeyes early, using their size advantage matched with their speed to control much of the first period action in the offensive zone. The Sockeyes for the most part looked nervously out of place, struggling to find their feet and proper positioning, which lead to an abundance of issues on the breakout and quickly affected the rest of their game. The Ice Hawks were pressing all period long as Kootenay Alder quickly became the strongest Sockeye force of the night, making stop after stop in desperation of not letting the game slip away early.
Finally, Delta broke Alder on the power play, finishing a beautiful passing display at 15:04. League-leading scorer Anthony Brito, averaging two goals and 3.1 points per game, found an empty net on a nifty tic-tac-toe play assisted by Mak Barden and Aaron Merrick. The entire Sockeye penalty kill was completely broken down by the quick Ice Hawk blitz as they were able to capitalize on their first man advantage of the evening. The Sockeyes were able to generate a bit more offense in the latter stages of the first with a late power play of their own, but it was still no match to the determined play of the proven Delta powerhouse team. The Sockeyes escaped the first period with the one goal deficit, but trailed 18-5 in shots at intermission - a much more telling part of the tale.
The second period began with the Sockeyes on the power play that carried over from the first, but Richmond was again not able to find the jump in their game. The Ice Hawks continued to out-battle and out-work the Sockeyes in the offensive and defensive zones, even on the penalty kill. Their passing was crisp and accurate, while their perpetual physical presence was being felt all over the ice. Again, this time at 6:49 of the second, Delta was able to solve the rock-steady Alder on another brilliant passing play. This time it was Marc Letourneau tapping one in at the side of the net assisted by Tanner Gattinger and Anthony Brito. But again, Alder had no chance as the net was empty for the unmarked Delta forward in behind the Sockeye defense.
Midway through the second, and the heated rivalry was back on the front burner - no question. Rookie Ice Hawks forward Cody Gordon placed a nasty check from behind on Dean Allison up against the boards, as he was a little shaken up. Sockeye defenseman Matt Wagner then got involved in retaliation and both players would take 10-minute misconducts and accompanying two-minute minors. The Ice Hawks were doing a solid job of drawing the Sockeyes into frustration, and then with under one minute to play in the period, the gloves dropped for the first time at the 'Ru this season. Dominic Centis and Ryan Cuthbert, two big defensemen, gave it to each other pop after pop right at center ice. Centis was able to land the last fierce punch, which sent Cuthbert's helmet tumbling to the ice as the crowd was roaring in a frenzy. The period ended 2-0, as the Sockeyes were only able to produce one more shot on goal than in the first - six.
The third period was, in short, a perfect reflection of the first two combined. The Ice Hawks scored two more goals to double their lead, and the physical and positional stranglehold they had on the Sockeyes persisted. The third Delta tally came very early at just 0:39 of the period as Anthony Brito found the back of the net for his second of the night. Gattinger and Letourneau also picked up their second points of the game, drawing the assists. Then, the gloves came off again, as this time Derek Hughes mixed it up with Delta forward Aaron Merrick, however it was much more short lived than the previous tilt. A bit later, at 13:09 and on the power play, the Ice Hawks put away their fourth and final goal, as the second league-leading scorer Mak Barden would join his other teammates with two points on the night by popping one in, assists going to Letourneau and Captain defenseman Alex Martin. And just like that, the Richmond Sockeyes felt their first real test of the season come and go while the bitterness towards their rivaled foes for the outcome of last season lives another day. The Sockeyes record now sits at 5-1-0-1 with 11 points, three back from the Ice Hawks in first place atop the Tom Shaw Conference.
Richmond now travels on the road for two - the first against North Vancouver (3-2-1-0) and the second against Delta (7-1-0-0) for a quick re-match of the spirited 4-0 loss. Then next Thursday, the Abbotsford Pilots (5-1-0-0) are in town for the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Pilots sit atop the Harold Brittain Conference and will surely prove as another sizable test for the Sockeyes early on in this campaign.
Brief Game Notes:
1. Ram Brar back in the lineup
2. Sockeyes: 0/6 on power play
3. Final shot count: 49-18 for Ice Hawks
Scratches:
1. Bret Higham
2. Rudi Thorsteinson
Three Stars:
1. Anthony Brito
2. Kootenay Alder
3. Marc Letourneau
Be sure to catch the next home game vs. Abbotsford live from the 'Ru next Thursday, October 11th, on www.richmondsockeyes.com. Pre-game 7:20, puck drop 7:30 p.m.
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