Richmond Sockeyes look to be peaking at the right time as the Pacific Junior Hockey League post-season looms.
The Sockeyes posted a pair of impressive victories last week as they make a late charge for home ice advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs. Jeevan Sidhu had a goal and three assists, while Joshua Barrett made 33 saves for his first shutout of the season as Richmond rolled to a 5-0 road win over the North Vancouver Wolf Pack on Saturday night.
First period goals by Connor Alderson and Austin Cook were more than enough as Richmond cruised to victory. Arjun Badh and defenceman Devon Vorster each chipped in with a goal and one assist.
Two nights earlier, the Sockeyes produced a dominating 7-1 victory over the Delta Ice Hawks. They jumped out a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes and broke the game open with three unanswered in the third. The result pulled Richmond (21-11-3-5) within three points of the Ice Hawks (26-12-0-1). The teams will meet again on Tuesday in Ladner (7:35 p.m.).
Badh led the locals with four points, including a pair of goals. Vaughan Bamford, Connor Kavanagh, Lucas Startford, Brendan Marfleet and Vorster had the others. Merek Pipes made 22 saves for the win as the Sockeyes outshot Delta 43-23.
The game marked the return of captain Tyler Andrews who had been sidelined since Nov. 12.
The Sockeyes also host North Vancouver on Thursday (7 p.m.) at Minoru Arena. They enter the week with four regular season games remaining.
Icing…
The club’s annual alumni game on Jan. 21 was once again a big hit, attracting over 600 fans to help raise funds for the Sockeyes Scholarship Foundation. The teams also served up a highly-entertaining battle with the Alumni needing double overtime to trim the current Sockeyes 4-3.
