Sockeyes Year End Award Wrap-Up

The majestic Sockeyes season came to an abrupt end at the hands of the Langley Trappers in a winner take all game seven March 22nd managing to pull out a narrow 3-2 win eliminating any playoff hopes for the Sockeyes.

Overall the Sockeyes ended with a regular season record of 44 wins, 5 losses, 1 O/T win, 267 Goals for, 106 Goals against finishing with 88 points.

The Sockeyes first round competition was the Burnaby Steelers who were eliminated in four straight games ending their season rather abruptly outsourcing the Steelers by a 18-1 margin.

The Sockeyes advanced to round two in a seven games series against the Trappers who finished the season with a record of 19 wins, 27 losses, 1 O/T loss, 2 shootout losses for a dismal 41 points.

So realistically speaking the series should have belonged to the Sockeyes but stranger things have happened in the world of sports and given the Sockeyes record the series should have been over in five or at least six games.

From the start the series was more of a “goaltenders” duel between Trappers tender Beckham Brossard and Sockeyes Haden Heide who both have an illustrious career ahead of themselves.

The series proved to be a home and home series with each team winning in their own respective home rink, with the exception of game seven, the final and deciding clinching game to advance against the Ridge Meadow Flames.

The seven game series saw the Sockeyes outscore the Trappers by an 18-15 margin, but it all came down to a game seven final that saw the Trappers pull out a game seven 3-2 win advancing them to the PJHL final.

There is no question that the loss took its toll on the entire team from ownership to players as well as the broadcast crew with everyone knowing that changes will be made in the off-season.

After a couple of weeks to get over the loss, ownership put the wheels in motion to book a season ending wrap-up at the Riverside Banquet Hall for the players, volunteers and their billet families to show their appreciation this past season. 

As you can appreciate it’s not an easy process to select the award winners, but realistically speaking everyone in the Sockeyes organization is a first class winner!

The first award for the Rookie of the Year came in tenth place for points in the league finishing the season with 6 goals, 23 assists in 46 games was Jonathan Zhang.

Although injured for a portion of the season Kai Adano managed to play 34 games, finishing with 144 PIM’s who was nick-named “the ripper”

Next up was the three stars award presented to David Yoon who was a first star 8 times, second and third star 7 times finishing to be a star in 22 games finishing first in the league in scoring.

The next award went to David Yoon for Top Scorer finishing with 43 goals, 59 assists followed by the most popular player award shared by both Dawson Sucke and Teo Lin.

The Unsung Hero award was presented to both Solstice Tennant and Brody Lindal followed by the most improved player award went to Rowan Duke.

The next award was the Defensive player award shared by two players with the first presented to second year Kai Adano followed by the presentation to first year player Quinn Orr who finished with a +63 and fifth in league scoring.

You can imagine the thought that went into the Most Inspirational Player Award who leaves it all on the ice and played last season with the Grand Forks Border Bruins who enjoys Taylor Swift music is Keelan Wyke.

Being tough isn’t necessarily about taking penalties and is appropriately named the Iron Man Award given to three who have played in all 49 was presented to Dylan Nazareth, Quinn Orr and Brody Lindal.

The next award is given for what I call the “Unsung Hero Award” given to the Volunteer of the Year Award who was shared by the Sockeyes Social Media team.

The Special Teams Award was again shared by both Teo Lin and William Huo followed by the Cumberworth Fan Award inspired by the family who wanted to remain part of the Sockeyes family bringing a new culture to the team presented to Mr. Lindal.

The Sockeyes community award was presented to players who attended all Sockeye functions in the community, continuing to give when asked went to both Nick Kovich and Gavin Dacpano.

The next award, the Ray Sawada Leadership Award, was inspired by the leadership Ray showed both on and off the ice and presented to Captain Teo Lin who has played his last game as a Sockeye.

The next award was the MVP award presented for leading the team, the league with 102 points with only three games where he failed to record a point is David Yoon.

Following the above awards the Captain and Assistant Award was presented to Captain Teo Lin, Alternate Captains Bryce Strandt, William Huo, Keelan Wyke and Dawson Sucke.

Players were awarded League Awards and selected by teams in the Tom Shaw Conference went to Top Scorer and MVP David Yoon and Keelan Wyke.

The Richmond Sockeyes Scholarship program has been around for the past 26 years and passed out over Four Hundred Thousand Dollars with William Huo presented “The Next Up Hockey Scholarship” award  with others to Bryce Strandt, William Nazareth, Quinn Orr, William Duke, Kai Adano, Keelan Wyke, Solstice Tennant.

The Fire Department Award went to Teo Lin in addition to various presentations to the Billet Families for hosting Keelan Wyke, Brody Lindal, Rowan Duke, Haden Heide, Carter Voll and Beaudy Beaudin.

The players in the photo and graduating Sockeyes but moving forward the Sockeyes have named Keelan Wyke as the Captain for the upcoming 2026-27 PJHL season presenting him with his Captain’s Sweater which he will wear extremely proud.

The Banquet was closed by Sockeyes Owner Doug Patterson who mentioned “Ownership has started the process in search for a new coach in addition to adding a new Scout in Albert.”

While the season never ended the way we were hoping I want to personally thank everyone who came by the broadcast booth and thank myself and Steve for everything we did over the season putting together a “top notch first class broadcast, which we appreciated.

In addition special thanks to Florence at the Richmond Sentinel for her assistance welcoming the Richmond Sockeyes to the community.

We’ll keep you up to date on upcoming happenings with the Richmond Sockeyes from now to the start of training camp.

Enjoy your summer!!