The Richmond Sockeyes continue their pre-season schedule Thursday night when the Grandview Steelers visit Minoru Arenas at 7 p.m.
It will be the back half of a home-and-home series that saw the Steelers skate to a 4-2 victory on Sunday at the Burnaby Winter Club.
The Sockeyes are then off to Centennial Arena on Saturday afternoon to take on the expansion White Rock Whalers. Head coach Brett Reusch is expected to all but finalize his roster prior to the teams meeting again on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Minoru to close out exhibition play.
Richmond will then prepare for its Pacific Junior Hockey League regular season opener Thursday, Sept. 6 when the cross-river rival Delta Ice Hawks are in town.
The teams last met in the Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial final back in April which saw the Sockeyes prevail 5-1 — avenging a second round playoff series lost that saw Delta go on to win the PJHL title.
Icing…
Among the numerous graduating 20-year-olds from last year’s championship team was forward Mitch Newsome who will be continuing his career at Simon Fraser University this fall.
He managed 25 points in 21 regular season games and added five more in the playoffs despite seeing limited action due to a shoulder injury.
The Surrey native came to Richmond after stints in the B.C. Hockey League with Penticton, Langley, Salmon Arm and Coquitlam.
"Mitch is a big addition to our forward group,” sais Director of Hockey Operations Chris Munshaw. “His junior coaches spoke highly of his work ethic, but he also brings a proven skill set and very strong resumé to the team.”
Newsome will be joined by another graduated Sockeye at SFU — Jordan Funk. He will be studying business administration.
