In what is shaping up as a three-team race for top spot in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League's Tom Shaw Conference this season, the Richmond Sockeyes managed to split a pair of games with their closest rivals last week.
After falling 2-1 to the first place Delta Ice Hawks (16-5-1-1) at Minoru Arena, the Sockeyes (12-4-2) maintained their second place standing with a 4-2 road win over the North Vancouver Wolf Pack (13-8-1-1) on Saturday night.
The visitors took control of the contest with second period goals from John Wesley and Mac Colasimone one minute apart in the second period. The Wolf Pack made things interesting when Mitchell Cristani made it 3-2 with 3:49 remaining, however, Colasimone's second of the night, into an empty net, sealed the outcome.
Nicholas Patey also scored for the Sockeyes who received a 27-save performance from Kootenay Alder.
Two nights earlier, the Ice Hawks rode the first star goaltending of Alex Anhert to their first win over Richmond in three tries this season. David Rudin's second period power play goal stood as the winner. Michael Scobie scored for Richmond.
The Sockeyes return to action with a rare Saturday home date against the Mission City Outlaws at 5:45 p.m.
