While the season is still early, it’s imperative that consistency continues, ensuring that playing a full 60 minutes is both necessary and essential as the season progresses.
Game three saw the Steelers return in hopes of avenging the pre-season loss they were handed, but despite the solid play between the pipes of Ronin Geraghty, they were unable to solve the powerful offense the Sockeyes threw at them.
Justin Grant opened the scoring which was followed up by the second marker with rookie Gavin Sangara giving them the early lead eight minutes in.
The Steelers continued to press, managing to get on the board at 11:13 only to have the Sockeyes’ Noah Gibbons and Nicholas Noren get a shorthanded goal that saw them take a 4-2 lead to the dressing room after one.
The first saw Richmond pepper the net with 23 shots while the Steelers could only manage 11 while the first saw only one minor assessed in what was otherwise a relatively clean period.
The second was a continuation of the first with goals from Willian Huo while Noren got a shorthanded marker (second of the game) in a period that saw the Steelers come out more aggressive, taking four or the six minors.
The third saw no let-up as the Sockeyes got another pair from Bryce Strandt and Teo Lin while the Steelers could only manage one heading home with a “L” in the stat column.
Thomas Popa had another stellar performance playing a full 60, turning aside 23 of 25 while Ronin Geraghty stopped 47 of the 55 he faced.
Game Stars:
1st Nicholas Noren (2G/1A)
2nd Justin Grant (1G/1A)
3rd Teo Lin (1G/3A)
Game two of week three saw the Sockeyes face their rival White Rock Whalers in a game where they knew it would be a hard fought match-up that ended up with no shortage of penalties.
Strandt continued his scoring way by managing to put the Sockeyes up with the early lead while on the PP a short 1:02 into the game while rookie Rajun Parmar notched his first of the season, taking a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes.
The second was all Whalers as they tallied three in a heated period that saw the teams trade seven penalties, while the Sockeyes sent 28 shots on goal to the Whalers 21 directed at Popa through 40 minutes.
The third was all Richmond replying to the three in the second that White Rock had as markers came from Teo Lin, Kai McComb with the empty net marker hammered home by Gavin Bains.
The third saw each team continue to test each other with the rough play as the Whalers took two of the five assessed.
Thomas Popa again played stellar, stopping 20 of 23 while Keegan Maddocks stopped 32 of 42 through 60 minutes.
Game Stars:
1st Kai McComb (1G)
2nd Nathan Bran (2G)
3rd Teo Lin (1G)
The Sockeyes next home game is 7 p.m. at Minoru Arena on Thursday, Sept. 21 as they face North Van, followed by a return match against White Rock at the Centennial Arena Sunday Sept. 24 with the face-off at 2:45 p.m.
For more information, go to https://www.richmondsockeyes.com/
