Sockeyes Tribute To Martin Hak

The Sockeyes were focused to play a home and home series against the rival Delta Ice Hawks who entering the game are trailing the Sockeyes looking to close the gap in the standings.

 While thoughts were on the game the main focus was on the tragic loss of Mission City Outlaws head coach Martin Hak tragically passed away following a fatal car crash in Maple Ridge.

He was named the Outlaws’ Head Coach in the offseason after winning back-to-back Stonehouse Cup Championships as an assistant coach with the Ridge Meadows Flames.  

Following this somber moment the Sockeyes made a special presentation to Kids Sport Richmond for the amount of ten thousand dollars which will help less privileged kids in Richmond who were previously not able to play.

Previously the game on October 23rd saw players wear pink stick tape in support of Breast Cancer Awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer where the players announced who they were fighting for.

November 13th saw the Sockeyes recognize the 2nd anniversary since the Sockeyes retired Ray Sawada’s jersey that saw Ray;s father, Jack Sawada dropping the puck with a special thank you to Chris Batalha (the Chairman of KidSport) for collecting the Play like Ray cheque.

The Sockeye’s recognized several players who reached a milestone in their career playing in Richmond and are as follows: Quinn Orr on playing 100 PJHL games and while with both the Whalers and the Sockeyes, he has acquired 20 goals and 39 assists.

Congratulations also go out to Mattias Uyeda who has also played in 100 PJHL games all with the Sockeyes managing to score 26 goals and 95 assists!

In addition to  David Yoon for recently hitting 150 PJHL points and in 81 games with both the Wolf Pack and the Sockeyes,  he has scored 62 goals and 94 assists while adding Dylan Nazareth to the 100 game milestone.

While we’re on the subject of “unsung hero’s” let’s not forget the Sockeyes Director of Operations and General Manager Will Kump who reached a milestone of 200 PJHL wins as the General Manager.

Richmond played a home and home series against their “Tunnel Series Rival”  the Delta Ice Hawks that saw the teams split the pair of games with Delta pulling out a close 3-2 win in  a contest that saw Delta outshoot 47-21.

The first period was scoreless while the Sockeyes Kai Adano opened the scoring 3:19 in the second only to have Delta grab three, two of which were on the power play in a contest that was chippy at times  through two.

David Yoon pulled the Sockeyes within one at 13:05 as they continued to press only to be turned aside given the play of Armaan Kaila who was peppered with 47 shots many of which were labelled.

Two nights later saw the Sockeyes turn the tables on Delta in their new home opening scoring a short 46 seconds in with Nick Kovich (8th) followed by five unanswered goals that saw Delta respond with a pair closing the period with a 6-2 finish.

While the first was chippy and filled with goals it’s fair to say the fans were clearly entertained that saw the Sockeyes continue to press that saw both teams trade goals the second saw in a period that Delta was again outshoot 14-9.

Delta pressed only to be turned aside by the stellar play of Massimo Urbani in a game that was a battle of the “tenders” while the third was scoreless with the Sockeyes pulling out a 7-3 win outshooting Delta 37-23.

Sockeyes Captain Teo LIn (1G/1A) was named first star, William Huo (1G/1A) and Ji Hung Jang (1G/1A) was named third.

Returning home they were facing the Langley Trappers again starting with an impressive start with  David Yoon (21st) opening the scoring 40 seconds in with Orr setting him up which was followed by Orr (5th) at 6:37.

Trappers Dalton Toma got Langley on the board at 7:40 pulling them within one that saw Richmond take a  2-1 lead to the dressing room while outshooting the Trappers by 17-9.

David Yoon got his second of the game a short 19 seconds in the second only to have Trappers Ian Burns slide one past Massimo Urbani at 7:18 that saw the Sockeyes take a 3-2 lead after forty minutes in a period that saw Langley finish the second holding a 12-11 shot total.

The third was all Sockeyes that saw them pepper “tender” Dwayne Cruz with  three while allowing one for the Trappers which ironically was a PP goal in a game that saw 1st star to David Yoon,, Teo Lin (2nd) while Trappers Ian Burns named third star with Sockeyes managing a 6-3 win.

The following night saw Richmond visit the TrailBlazers in a game that saw goal scoring from some who have been off the score sheet over the past while Carter Voll (8th) opened the scoring 4:54 followed by teams trading goals with the Sockeyes taking a 3-1 lead after one period.

At times the game was a chippy match-up that saw them focus on scoring goals rather than sitting in the “sin-bin” with the teams trading goals in the second while the third was all Sockeye hammering three past “tender” Nicholas Muc for a 6-2 win.

For the second consecutive game the scoring was more of a strong team work ethic with Beaudy Beaudin (10th) and Dylan Nazareth (15th) getting on the scoresheet adding to their productivity.

Beaudin 1G/2A) was named first star with Sockeyes “tender” Alan Peregrym (44SA/42SV) while TrailBlazers Austin Pavan named third.

Wrapping up the past two weeks saw a trip to Chilliwack in a game that was dominated by Sockeyes powerful explosive offensive power outshooting the Jets 53-30 after sixty minutes.

The Sockeyes locked up the three stars with first star to Dylan Nazareth (2G/0A), Massimo Urbani 2nd star (30 SA/28 SV) with third star to David Yoon (0G/3A) which solidified the Sockeyes hold on first place.

The Sockeyes have an impressive record of 21 wins, 2 losses, scoring 128 goals for and 46 against through 23 games and return home November 27th for a match-up against the Burnaby Steelers at 7:00.