Sockeyes end season shutout in Bronze medal game

                                                          

All in all it was an unbelievable season for the Richmond Sockeyes despite this being a "rebuilding" year. Richmond won the Division, league regular season and PIJHL championship and were one win away from making the Provincial Title. Richmond will now look ahead to the 2011-2012 season in which they will look to have the same and even more success.

What essentially was a meaningless game to the Sockeyes at the Cyclone Taylor cup, the Sockeyes were shutout 3-0 by the Osoyoss Coyotes. They had thoughts of gold on their mind but could only see bronze after going 1-2-0 in the round robin and failed to qualify for the gold medal game.

Richmond flew home today to hang up their gear for the last time and close the Sockeyes dressing rooms. They compiled a spectacular 37-5-4 regular season record for 78 points, and first in the league. They had a series sweep of the North Delta Devils, a terrific game 7 showdown with Delta Ice Hawks and a quick 4 game sweep to win the PIJHL championship against the Abbotsford Pilots.

Aaron Oakley came in as the permanent no. 1 goalie around late october and played unbeleivable in net only losing three games all year. Captain Patrick Hunter who had played with four PIJHL franchises settled into a role as captain and led his team to glory in the PIJHL.

What looks promising for this well run organization is that there is only one player who cannot play next year due to age restrictions, Eli Wiebe. He is a 20 year old and cannot return but he left his mark on the team. Wiebe scored the PIJHL championship winning goal against Abbotsford in March and put and end to an illustrious time playing hockey, finishing third on team scoring in the regular season with 42 points. Wiebe collected his 50th goal in the final game of the regular season when he scored a hat-trick, a fitting end to his hockey.

Richmond Sockeyes are set up very well to make a significant push in the post-season next year, depending on who will and wont return. But without a doubt the Sockeyes will once again want to be right back in the mix to win that provincial title and head to the Keystone Cup.

We would like to thank the entire organization for everything they have done, all their hard work and dedication to make this season run so smoothly. From ownership to coaching staff, to the players, fans, volunteers and eveyone behind the scenes, we thank you for a wonderful 2010-2011 season that brought so much success.

See you next September for more exciting PIJHL hockey.

Cheers!

Sockeyes lose two in a row and don't make Gold medal game

                                                       

The Richmond Sockeyes incredible 2010-2011 season will come to an end tomorrow as they face the Osoyoos Coyotes for the Bronze Medal game at the Cyclone Taylor Cup. Richmond lost two in a row in the round robin, 6-2 to Peninsula and 1-0 to host Fernie Ghostriders and fall to third place in the Tournament.

After losing a tough game to the PIJHL champion Peninsula Panthers 6-4 on Friday, and a 1-0 loss tonight the Sockeyes will not be able to make the Gold medal game. Richmond battled extremely hard throughout the tournament but couldn't find a way to score against the Ghostriders in game three. Andrew Walton made 26 saves getting a shutout for his team to send the hometown Ghostriders into the Final versus the PIJHL champion Peninsula Panthers.

Richmond will play for the bronze medal tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. in Fernie against the Osoyoos Coyotes who they beat in the opening game of the tournament 4-3.

All in all this was an unbelievable season for Richmond, winning the Tom Shaw Division, league regular season championship and PIJHL title. But now they will simply look ahead to the Bronze medal game and then return home Monday.

Sockeyes win first Cyclone Taylor game 4-3 (Sockeyes 1-0-0)

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What could have been the two top Junior B teams playing this afternoon saw the Richmond Sockeyes skate away with a 4-3 victory over the Osoyoos Coyotes. Rudi Thorsteinson who has been playing some unbelievable hockey over the last 2 months including the playoffs put on a show today. Thorsteinson scored two goals and added an assist to lead Richmond to an important first game win at the Provincial Championships the Cyclone Taylor Cup.

Osoyoos got on the board first, with Troy Quintal scoring the tournaments first goal 3:04 into the second period. Both teams traded goals before the period ended. Richmond scored two goals, both coming on the power play, as Jeremy Hamaguchi and Rudi Thorsteinson scored. Sam Nigg scored the second Osoyoos goal and after two periods the score was 2-2 and the Sockeyes were outshooting the Coyotes 29-22.

A big turning point of that period was when Turner Popoff checked a Coyote into the end board he received a five-minute major penalty. That cause a minute long 5 on 3 man-advantage for the Coyotes but nothing came out of it. They killed off both and prevented Osoyoos from getting a big lead.

Brayden Low game the Sockeyes their first lead of the game on a shorthanded goal just over a minute into the third period. The Coyotes tied the game when Josh Gray beat Aaron Oakley to tie the game at 3-3. It appeared like the game was heading towards overtime, but in stunning fashion the Sockeyes top line broke in on a 3 on 1. Rudi Thorsteinson held onto the puck and roofed it over Kyle Laslo with just 51.5 seconds left in the game. That would be the game winner as Richmond snuck out the win late in the game.

The specialty teams played a big role for Richmond as they scored two goals on five chances, while the Sockeyes penalty kill stopped four chances including a 5 on 3 and a five minute major penalty. Aaron Oakley was big in net stopping 33 of 36 shots on goal. Kyle Laslo stopped 31 of 35 for Osoyoss.

Jeremy Hamaguchi was named Sockeyes player of the game with a goal and two assists. Shane Hanna was Osoyoos's player of the game.

Richmond will now play the VIJHL champion Peninsula Panthers tomorrow at 2:00 pacific time.