The Richmond Sockeyes talented rookie class was on full display Sunday night in leading the club to its fourth straight win.
Freshman talent combined for eight points, including four goals, in a 5-2 victory over the Ridge Meadows Flames at Minoru Arenas. The result gives the Sockeyes a 12-3-1-1 record and a tie for top spot in the overall Pacific Junior Hockey League standings with North Vancouver.
Marcus Pantazis showed why he is an early candidate for the league’s top rookie award with a spectacular second period goal.
The recently turned 18-year-old, who played Major Midget for the Greater Vancouver Canadians last season, is now seventh in league scoring with 23 points in 17 games. That’s six points clear of Langley’s Adam Nobes — the only other rookie among the league’s top 20 scorers.
It was Pantazis ‘ second game winning goal in three nights after providing the difference with just 10 seconds left in a 2-1 home ice victory over Mission City.
Ross Zerdin, 18, enjoyed his biggest night in his brief career with Richmond, scoring twice and adding an assist against the Flames.
Seventeen-year-old Isaac Alvardo beat the buzzer for his team’s fourth goal to close out the second period scoring, while veteran Trevor Townsend also found the net. Craig Schouten, also 17, chipped in with a pair of helpers.
Goaltender Jeremy Kelleway picked up his 11th win in 15 starts and now has a 1.67 goals against average and .947 save percentage.
The Sockeyes will be back in action on Thursday when the expansion White Rock Whalers visit Minoru at 7 p.m.
