Kaczynski leads Sockeyes to victory over Knights

Having won three games in a row, the Richmond Sockeyes hosted the Langley Knights in a rare Monday night home game. The two teams are currently the two most offensive teams in the PJHL this season, though the Sockeyes have a much better defensive track record.

It was Langley’s offense that connected first, when Tristan Craighead slid one past the outstretched right pad of Nathan Alalouf midway through the first period. The Sockeyes attempted to equalize it before the intermission but Nick Trenciansky made two fabulous saves to keep his team ahead by a goal after 20 minutes.

Richmond’s offense took over in the middle frame. Outshooting the Knights 23-5 in the period, the Sockeyes got two goals from Matthew Bissett, both assisted by Daniel Oakley, to take the lead. The lead grew to 3-1 when Trenciansky misplayed a clearing attempt and the puck slid behind him.

In a back-and-forth battle, Langley clawed their way back in the third. Goals from Donovan Shambeau and Dylan McCann tied up the game early in the third. The game looked as though it would be heading to overtime, until Troy Kaczynski cut past a defender and sizzled a wrist shot bar down past the Knights goaltender with under four minutes to play.

Kaczynski sealed the deal during his next shift on a two-on-one with Tyler Andrews that he snapped home himself for his second goal (and third point) of the night.

The Sockeyes, led by Bissett, Oakley, and Kaczynski, mustered 46 shots on goal in the 5-3 win over the Langley Knights.

The Sockeyes have now won four in a row, and sit back atop the league standings, although North Van has four games in hand.

Richmond next plays on Thursday night when they host the Grandview Steelers.

- Bailey Meadows

Sockeyes annihilate Pilots

The Sockeyes hosted the Abbotsford Pilots on Thursday. The Sockeyes were looking for a second straight victory as they welcomed Troy Kaczynski, the league's leading scorer, back from injury.

It didn't take long for Kaczynski to get back on the score sheet. His shot along the ice was deflected in by Tyler Andrews just seven minutes into the game. A later Sockeyes power-play was capitalized on by Jake Wozney to put the Sockeyes up two after the opening frame.

Richmond picked up where they left off early in the 2nd period. The Kaczynski-Andrews-Colasimone line looked unstoppable throughout. First, Mac Colasimone finished off a pretty passing play with his line mates before putting one past Jacob Crawford. Colasimone later scored another goal on the power-play, also assisted by Kaczynski and Andrews.

Matthew Bissett also tallied before Crawford's night was cut short, allowing five goals on 14 shots. The goaltending change didn't spark anything for Abbotsford, as Daniel Oakley ripped one top corner past relief goaltender Alexander Kong.

The Sockeyes sat back on a more-than-comfortable lead in the 3rd, cruising to a 6-0 victory over the Pilots.

Nathan Alalouf was solid throughout the night, making 24 saves for the shutout. His best came at the end of the second period when a rebound shot was snared in tight with a quick glove.

The Pilots have now lost three straight, while the Sockeyes bump back up to 46 points, tied for first in the league.