Thorsteinson scores series winner with 1:11 left (Sockeyes 4-0)

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The Richmond Sockeyes are moving onto round two and the Tom Shaw Conference finals after defeating the North Delta Devils, sweeping them in four straight games. Rudi Thosteinson scored the game winner with just 1:11 remaining in the third period to send the Sockeyes to the next round.


It was a pure defensive struggle for most of the game as both teams had to battle with sloppy offensive zone pressure. Most of the first period was controlled by the Devils, especially since they outshot Richmond 12-5 in the opening frame. Luckily for the Sockeyes their first shot against Alex Wind was a good one, a Keenan Webb point shot found its way to Rudi Thorsteinson who sent the puck in on net. The rebound found its way to an open Jeremy Hamaguchi who scored his third goal of the playoffs. This was a huge goal as Aaron Oakley was playing solid in net and they had to give him some help.


North Delta just kept pressuring the Sockeyes in the second period, firing everything towards the net. They would finally be rewarded with a goal as Adam Nathwani scored his second of the post-season to tie the game at one. Manuveer Mahil was able to get the puck to Nathwani and he fired a shot past Oakley on the low corner. Devils were outshooting the Sockeyes 20 to 16 after two periods of play. The biggest part of the period though came earlier in the period, as Chris Manhas scored a open net goal as Aaron Oakley was down on the ice. But the referees discussed the play and deemed that Weslee Lee ran goaltender interference on the play.


Most of the last period saw both teams having a really hard time getting that pressure in each other's zone, with countless neutral zone play. During the final few minutes is when the offence really kicked into gear. Both teams had relentless pressure on both goaltenders. Aaron Oakley making some huge saves and Alex Wind stopping a Connor Wilson and Patrick Hunter breakaway. With just 1:11 left in the game, the Sockeyes would get on the board. With a great move by Jeremy Hamaguchi to move the puck behind the net, he waited for Thorsteinson to get open, and with a quick pass out front, Rudi was able to shoot the puck past the red line for the lead. The score was 2-1 and all the Devils could do is look on in horror as their season slipped away. 


Despite all the chances with the goaltender pulled they could not get the puck past Oakley and the Sockeyes would win the game 2-1 and the series 4-0. Both goaltenders got a star in the game and deservingly so, Oakley (Third) with 39 of 40 saves and Wind (Second) stopping 30 of 32 shots. Thorsteinson with his game winning goal and assist got the games first star and moved his point total to nine, just two behind Danny Brandys for the PIJHL lead. 


Next up for Richmond is either the Grandview Steelers or Delta Ice Hawks. That series is currently 2-1 in favour of Delta, either way game one of the Tom Shaw final will go Saturday, March 5th at 5:30 PM at the Minoru Arena. The game will be broadcast on SockeyesTV ww.richmondsockeyes.com

Sockeyes power play leads to 8-1 blowout (Sockeyes 3-0)

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Richmond just pushed itself to within one game of making the Tom Shaw Conference finals as they defeated the North Delta Devils by a blowout score of 8-1. Thanks in large part to a fantastic power play that capitalized six times and a undisciplined North Delta team that had 11 penalties and over 50 minutes in penalties.

North Delta was playing great hockey to start the game, controlling most of the play in the opening period, but it would be the Sockeyes who came out on top. With Sebastien Pare getting a nice feed on the side of the net and ripping home a shot to give Richmond the 1-0 lead. This was the first game the Sockeyes opened the scoring in, as the Devils scored the first goal in both previous games.

Then came the second period. Connor Wilson added an insurance marker after a Scott Wessa shot from the point bounced of the back wall behind Alex Wind and he potted the rebound behind Wind. At this point the score was 2-0, but the game deteriorated after that goal. Julius Ho, the captain of the Devils was ejected after a vicious knee to Sebastien Pare. On the 5 minute major penalty the Sockeyes capitalized four time, with goals by Thorsteinson, Hunter, Hamaguchi and Ball. It was after the fourth goal the Alex Wind was pulled and relief duties were given to Alex Ahnert. The fifth goal was where the Devils became completely undisciplined, Marco Finucci hammering Rudi Thorsteinson in front of their net, he was being ejected and as he was heading out, he grabbed Jake Roder's stick and tried to throw it into the crowd. The fans responded with a shower of boo's. It was a totally unprofessional act by Mr. Finucci. 

The period would end 6-0, but the game was over long before that, Pare would not return, and the Sockeyes would score two more goals, this time by Siemens and Webb. Aaron Oakley played great in net, only allowing one goal against. He stopped 26 of the 27 Devils shots, while Alex Wind was 18 for 22 in the loss, and relief goaltender Alex Ahnert stopped 28 of 32. 

With the game ending 8-1, the feeling in the third period was just, lets get out of here without any more problems. We will have to wait to see if Pare will be back for game four of this series, as the Sockeyes now have the chance to close out the series in North Delta. Game time is 6:45, February 26th in North Delta, you can watch the broadcast live on SockeyesTV www.richmondsockeyes.com  

Sockeyes win squeaker at home (Sockeyes 2-0)

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Once again the North Delta Devils opened the scoring, but they couldn't hang on to defeat their division rival Sockeyes. Ryan Cooper would eventually score the game winner for the Sockeyes, to give them a strong 2-0 series lead.

The first period saw some stellar goaltending on both sides of the rink, Aaron Oakley for the Sockeyes and Alex Wind got the start for the Devils. Wind replaced Alex Ahnert in game one after he allowed six goals in the first 30 minutes of play. The Devils goaltender stopped ten shots against him while Oakley played huge stopping 12 shots on him.

Richmond was thanking its stars that they weren't down after the first, as many good chances went to the Devils. The found themselves on a 4 on 2 breaking up ice with Adam Nathwani controlling the puck. Normally on a chance like that you make a couple passes, but he blasted a shot over the shoulder of Oakley to open the scoring 1-0. The shot actually blew the lid off of the water bottle sitting on the top of the net.

But there wasn't any quit in the Sockeyes eyes, and Aaron Oakley turned his game on preventing any Devils scoring opportunities. While Richmond found themselves on a 5 on 3 power play they went to work. Michael Ball sent a pass to captain Patrick Hunter on the side pf the net, he waited for Sebastien Pare to get open and sent a cross crease feed tape to tape. Pare was able to send a blistering wrist shot past Wind to tie the game at the 7:05 mark of the second.

Coming into the third period with the score tied 1-1 neither team wanted to be the one to go down, or make that mistake. Oakley had to play huge, as the Devils had some great offensive zone pressure for most of the period. Richmond would be rewarded with the tie-breaking goal. Eli Wiebe danced around a defenceman from the Devils and sent the puck on net, it couldn't make it past Wind, but a pinching Ryan Cooper knocked the puck in for a 2-1 lead.

In the last 3 minutes the game was incredibly intense with great chances by both sides, Aaron Oakley was a rock in net stopping all ten shots he faced in the period. Richmond would would come away from game two at the Minoru Arena with a 2-1 win and a 2-0 series lead.

Game three will go tomorrow night at the Minoru Arena at a late 8:45 start time due to ice time conflict. Richmond would be able to take a huge stranglehold on the series if they win. You can always watch as well on SockeyesTV with Dustin Forbes and Aaron Mackay www.richmondsockeyes.com