Friday, September 26, 2014

Sockeyes Send Pilots Flying Back to Abbotsford

The Richmond Sockeyes played the struggling Abbotsford Pilots Thursday night. The Pilots came into the game on a 3-game losing streak while the Sockeyes were just one game removed from the 7-1 thrashing they handed out to last year's PJHL champs, the Aldergrove Kodiaks.
Abbotsford used their physical play to their advantage in the first when a big hit along the boards opened up a scoring chance that Mitchell Plevy capitalized on to give the Sockeyes their first deficit at home this season. That deficit lasted for about 8 seconds as Tyler Andrews rushed the puck in off the opening face-off and shovelled one past Jacob Crawford to tie it up. Troy Kaczynski added his 10th goal of the season only 2 minutes later to give the Sockeyes the lead. Abbotsford Captain Brady Lawlor tied it up later on in the period on a marvellous post-and-in shot. Lawlor later received a checking to the head penalty, and a 10 minute misconduct. Lima scored on a point shot during that power play that found it's way in the goal which allowed Richmond a 3-2 lead after 1 period.
A quick 2nd period tally on the power play from Bissett led to a 4-2 lead, which they held comfortably throughout the bulk of the period. The Pilots strong physical play eventually led to a massive scrum after Paterson was taken hard into the boards. Kaczynski and Lima received penalties for the Sockeyes, while Methorst, Shergill, and Vander Wyk were penalized for the Pilots. The ensuing power play featured a lightning quick shot by Oakley that beat Crawford to give Richmond a 5-2 lead heading into the intermission.
It was a back and forth scoreless 3rd until Oakley threaded a perfect pass to Bissett, who made no mistake burying his 2nd goal of the game. Kurt Russell put an exclamation point on a fantastic night for the Sockeyes with a fantastic left pad save while sliding to his left, one of his 22 saves. Richmond finished the night 3/6 on the power play and 2/2 on the penalty kill as they blew past yet another team at home.

- Bailey Meadows

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