The Richmond Sockeyes have reached the gold medal game at the Keystone Cup Western Canadian Junior B Hockey Championships in St. Malo, Manitoba.
The B.C. champions have cruised to four straight victories, including a 7-3 triumph on Saturday morning against Ontarios Northern Hawks. The gold medal game is slated for 11 a.m. (PDT) on Sunday against a still-to-be-determined opponent.
Since dropping game six of their Pacific International Junior Hockey semi-final series against the Delta Hawks, the Sockeyes have proceeded to win 13 consecutive games.
They opened the Keystone Cup with a 5-3 win over Albertas Okotoks Bisons. Jeremy Hamaguchi led the way with a pair of goals, while Rudi Thorsteinson added a goal and two assists. Richmond then blasted the St. Malo Warriors 9-1 on Friday morning, outshooting the tournament hosts by a whopping 72-16 margin.
Daniell Lange and Thorsteinson each netted hat tricks. Danton Heinen, Dean Allison and Hamaguchi also scored. Jake Roder and Adam Nishi eac had three assists.
The Sockeyes also made short work of the Saskatoon Royals on Friday night, dumping the Saskatchewan champions 10-2. Roder led the onslaught with four points, including a pair of goals. Stephen Campbell added a hat trick. Blueliners Dominic Centis and Scott Wessa were also among the scorers.
Thorsteinson added to his tournament scoring led with a hat trick against the Northern Hawks. He now has 12 points, including eight goals, in four games.
Richmond faces Manitoba champions Peguis Juniors (2-1-0) in its final round-robin game tonight.
The Sockeyes last won the Keystone Cup in 2009.
