The Richmond Sockeyes missed out on opportunity to take over second place and, at the same time, may have let another team join the race.
The Delta Ice Hawks scored four unanswered goals Tuesday night in Ladner to hand Richmond a 5-2 loss and set the stage for what should be a wild finish for the final three playoff spots in the Pacific Junior Hockey League’s Tom Shaw Conference.
A week earlier, the fourth place Ice Hawks were riding a six game winless streak and headed into their home ice tilt nine points back of the Grandview Steelers. A 9-6 triumph would launch a three game win streak that now has Delta within three points of the suddenly struggling second place Steelers.
In the meantime, the Sockeyes continued their roller coaster ride of late with a depleted line-up that required call-ups Paris Jeyachandran and Grayson Valentre.
Richmond dropped a 7-2 home ice decision to Ridge Meadows but then came up with a big 4-2 road win over league-leading North Vancouver two nights later, only to fall to the Ice Hawks.
The unpredictability should continue over the final three weeks of the regular season thanks to balance the league hasn’t seen in some time.
“It’s probably the most parity I have seen in the nine years I have been involved,” said Ice Hawks general manager Peter Zerbinos. “That’s a good thing for the league. Before we use to have teams running away with it by Christmas.
“This year in the playoffs, you just don’t know what’s going to happen.”
It’s a reason why coaches and management are not losing any sleep on figuring out potential quarter-final match-ups.
The Wolf Pack have already locked up to spot in the Tom Shaw Conference, yet the Ice Hawks have played the defending league champions very tough with a 2-2-1 record in the season series.
Richmond has not beaten the Steelers in five meetings but each game has been close, including the last three going to overtime.
“If you’re planning to go all the way then you are going to have to play everyone eventually anyways,” continued Zerbinos. “You’re only focus should be on the next team in your way.”
Seventeen-year-old Nicholas Wicks continued his impressive rookie season with a power play goal into a gaping net, midway through the second period to give the Sockeyes a 2-1 lead. That’s when the Ice Hawks came to life, led by Luc Soares.
The 19-year-old, who joined the club in the new year from the junior “A” ranks, notched a pair of goals to close out the frame and give the hosts the lead for good.
Quinten Wideski doubled the margin in the opening minute of the third period and Sam Kozlowski added an empty netter in the final minute. Seafair grad Cam Cuthbert had the other Delta goal, while Tyler Paterson opened the scoring for Richmond back in the first period.
Icing…
The Sockeyes were slated to host the Wolf Pack last night and will be in action again Saturday (5:30 p.m.) for the club’s annual Alumni Game at Minoru. Proceeds from ticket sales, a beer garden and 50/50 draw go to the club’s highly successful Sockeyes Scholarship Foundation.
Tickets are $10 and available at the door.
Spencer Berry recorded a goal while Wicks had two assists as the Tom Shaw Conference doubled the Harold Brittain Conference 4-2 in the PJHL Prospects Game Monday night in Abbotsford. Sam Atkins and Connor Alderson also played in the game.
