The Richmond Sockeyes have some work to do to get their hands on the Battle of the Tunnel Cup.
A 5-2 loss at Minoru Arenas to the Delta Ice Hawks last Thursday means the Sockeyes will have to win at least two of the next three in the four-game season series to secure the inaugural trophy that was introduced to provide a little more intrigue to the friendly rivalry between the two Pacific Junior Hockey League teams.
It was 2-0 when Tyler Paterson put the Sockeyes on the board in the early stages of the second period. However, the visitors would close out the period with three unanswered goals to take full control. Blueliner Devon Vorster closed out their scoring in the final minute of play.
Delta is the league’s last remaining team with a perfect record (5-0-0-0) while the Sockeyes slipped back to .500 at 2-2-0-1.
Richmond did enjoy a 32-30 edge in the shot department with Ice Hawks goalie Jordan Naylor earning first star honours.
The teams won’t meet again until Nov. 14 in Ladner.
The Sockeyes were coming off a dominant 10-2 victory in Langley one night earlier against the expansion Trappers.
Veteran Brett Gelz led the onslaught with six points, including his first goal of the season. Captain Tyler Andrews padded his lead atop the PJHL scoring race with two goals and two assists. He now has 15 points, including nine goals.
Linemate Nicolas Bizzutto added a hat trick, while Brodie Crawford scored twice. Recent addition Andrew Kemp and Paterson rounded out the scoring. Cameron Kovesdi chipped in with three assists.
The game marked the debut of Noah Wozney who rejoined his hometown club after spending last season in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League with the Weyburn Red Wings.
The 19-year-old Seafair product will bolster an already impressive group of forwards. Wozney managed 39 points in 44 games with the Sockeyes back in the 2015-16 season. He had two assists against Langley.
His signing gives the Sockeyes a whopping nine homegrown players on their roster.
Richmond entertains Mission (3-3-0-0) on Thursday (7 p.m.) at Minoru then head to Maple Ridge on Friday night to take on the Ridge Meadows Flames (4-2-0-0).
