It's just like old times for Jake Roder and that's good news for the Richmond Sockeyes.
Two years ago, the high-scoring forward walked away from his junior hockey career to focus on his studies at the University of Victoria. He had won the Pacific International Junior Hockey League championship as the Sockeyes leading scorer and also helped the team finish third at the Cyclone Taylor Cup.
"At the time I really thought me career was over," recalled the 21-year-old South Surrey native. "I was going to Kwantlen, working part-time and playing hockey. It was extremely challenging and there was no way I was going to keep doing it (with a full university course load)."
Roder had played some beer league hockey but didn't really miss the game until reuniting with some of his old teammates last summer. Sam Chichak, Rudi Thorsteinsen and Jeremy Hamaguchi were all heading into their final season with the Sockeyes.
It was during a reading break last November when Roder returned home for a few days and decided to take in a Sockeyes game. The desire to play junior hockey game had returned in a big way.
"(Sockeyes general manager) Richard (Petrowsky) pulled me aside and explained the team they had and how they would love to have me back," said Roder. "I could always go back to school but there wouldn't be a chance to go back to junior hockey again."
With the blessing of his parents, Roder rejoined the Sockeyes but not after scrambling back to UVic to write his first semester exams. He will return to school next fall to continue his studies in UVic's Geomatics program.
It didn't take Roder long to find his game legs. He produced 25 points in 18 regular season games, including 13 goals. He added 15 more points in the playoffs as the Sockeyes marched to the PIJHL championship. It was a path that was almost identical to 2011 when they were pushed to the limit by the Delta Ice Hawks in the semi-finals then swept the final series.
"The funny thing is my parents were in Hawaii two years ago for the final and the same thing happened again," laughed Roder. "They didn't even knew I would be playing again when they book their trip.
"The playoffs went exactly the same. We needed a big effort in game seven to get by Delta and I honestly felt at that point we were a different team that had taken our game to another level."
Roder is now hoping for a different ending when the Sockeyes head to Courtenay next week for the Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial junior "B" championships. A slow start cost Richmond two years ago and the returning veterans know there is no room for error in the four team tournament.
"We have to be playing with the same level of urgency in every game, every period," he said.
The Sockeyes have been in training camp mode this week in preparation for the championships.
Richmond faces Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League champions Victoria Cougars in its opening game next Thursday before facing host Comox Valley Glacier Kings.
The Sockeyes then play Kootenay league champion Castlegar Rebels. The top two teams will meet for the gold medal and a berth in the Keystone Cup slated for later this month in St.
Malo, Manitoba.
