December starts off with the Sockeyes continuing to dominate the Tom Shaw Conference in the PJHL pulling out another win over last year’s league champions on home ice with the month starting out with an impressive 5-1 win.
December for the Sockeyes is about giving back to the community with the fans bringing canned goods or cash donations to the games which are being donated to the Richmond Food Bank.
December started out with back to back games against the Trail Blazers with the first going to O/T with David Yoon getting the winner at 3:53 in for the win.
The return match-up was played the following week with the Sockeyes winning by the same 4-3 win while Po. Coq managed two PP goals with the Sockeyes finishing with one while the Sockeyes outshoot the Trail Blazers 43-36.
With little rest next up for the Sockeyes saw Ridge Meadows come to “The Fish Tank” in hopes of igniting their offense, pulling closer in the standings to get back to the top in the standings on a night where the game was dominated by the home squad.
Sockeyes Dylan Nazareth (21) opened the scoring at 5:59 of the first after taking a stretch pass from speedster David Yoon who got his 37th assist of the season for the early lead.
Ridge played aggressive with Jacob Douglan getting them even at 9:49 until Quinn Orr (7) got the go-ahead marker at 19:57 with assists to Australia’s Brody LIndal and Richmond’s Bryce Strandt.
The first saw the Sockeyes outshoot the Flames by a 15-9 margin coming out with a fast start in the second at 1:57 with David Yoon turning on the red light with Dylan Nazareth and Gavin Dacpano setting him up for a 3-1 lead.
While the Flames pressed, the Sockeyes continued to dominate shots on goal setting up Dylan Nazareth getting a PP marker followed by the second of the game from Brody Lindal set up by Strandt and Mytton taking a 5-1 lead after forty minutes.
The third was scoreless in a game that saw Flames Matthew Candusso and Sockeyes Massimo Urbani turn aside quality shots that were clearly labeled to turn on the light in a contest that saw both tenders play exceptionally.
In this contest both “tenders” could have been named game stars in a game that saw Dylan Nazereth (2G/1A) named first star, David Yoon (1G/1A) second and Brody Lindal third with 1 goal and 1 assist.
The Sockeyes continued to control shots outshooting the Flames 39-28 that saw a penalty filled third with the Flames assessed seven while the Sockeyes finished with eight.
Given the schedule change this season next up saw the Trail Blazers return to Minoru wanting nothing more than wanting two points heading home with a win, but this contest the Sockeyes wanted to finish with a “W” heading into the Christmas break.
Given the time of the season having a couple of days off can be a game changer as they enter the holiday season and for the Sockeyes it allowed them to get players who were out of the line-up back in.
The Sockeyes hosted the Trail Blazers but wanted different results without going to O/T in hopes of keeping their winning streak alive in a contest that saw them dominate all areas of the ice.
Sockeye’s Nathan Van Hoeke opened the scoring with his first of the season at 13:21 after getting a cross-ice pass from Brody Lindal (3f2) and Bryce Strand (7) taking a 1-0 lead after one dominating the shot department by a 17-8 tally.
Keelan Wyke got his 6th of the season at 3:06 with Nathan Van Hoeke and Brody Lindal getting helpers on the play while managing to control all areas of the ice shutting down any attack Po. Coq had.
They continued their strong attack with their third of the contest at 10:43 with David Yoon getting his 28th following a strong break-out on the left side jumping on a set up from Dylan Nazareth and Quinn Orr.
The Sockeyes continued to press peppering shots from all areas of the ice as Po. Coq were becoming extremely frustrated with the lack of offense they were able to throw at Massimo Urbani.
Clearly the frustration got the better of Po. Coq after a low cheap hit sparked a “tilt” that saw Dawson Sucke “answer the bell” at 12:57 taking on Nick Ferraro-Howling bringing the fans to their feet.
After a lengthy discussion between the officials it was determined that the hit warranted a Major penalty to Ferraro-Howling on the low cheap hit which could have been a far more serious hit causing a long time injury.
Some called it a draw while others were setting a message that they weren’t tolerating any cheap hit on any of their players which obviously sent a strong message with both players assessed Majors plus an automatic Game Misconduct’s.
The ensuing power play allowed Dylan Nazareth to get his 23rd of the season following a set-up from both Kai Adanon (10) and William Huo (33) taking a 4-0 lead to the dressing room after forty minutes.
Given the Sockeyes explosive fire-power they literally dominated the shots in the second by a commanding 29-2 tally from all areas of the ice to the delight of their solid fan base.
The third saw them again control areas of the ice, opening the scoring at 4:52 with Quinn Orr (8th) all starting from deep in the zone from Brody Lindal (34) and Beaudy Beaudin (7) with Dylan Nazareth getting his 24th a short 50 seconds later.
The final goal of the game saw Beaudy Beaudin get his 14th with helpers going to Keelan Wyke (19) and Rowan Duke (5) that allowed them to pull out an impressive 7-0 win outshooting the struggling visitors by a commanding 63-20.
The win at the Christmas holidays has them with a record of 28 wins, 4 losses, 173 goals, 68 against sitting in first place in the Tom Shaw Conference with 56 points a commanding 20 points ahead of second place Ridge Meadows who they dominated the following night by a 10-4 margin.
The Sockeyes “Congratulate” Mattias Uyeda following an impressive three year career with the Sockeyes finishing this season with a record of 10 goals, 38 assist, 5 power play goals and a three year career with 133 points through 108 games played being signed by the WHLEverett Silvertips.
The Sockeyes congratulate both Bryce Strandt and Keelan Wyke who were named as Alternate Captains working alongside Captain Teo Lin.
As we enter the Holiday Season the Richmond Sockeyes wish you “Peace and Joy” and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year!!!!
