October has been a forgetful month thus far for the Richmond Sockeyes.
After soaring through much of September with one of the best records in the Pacific Junior Hockey League, the suddenly fourth place Sockeyes (4-4-0-2) have yet to win this month and will look to end a four game skid when the Abbotsford Pilots visit Minoru Arenas on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Richmond has at least been competitive in all but one contest, however, needs to get its young group of forwards back on track.
The locals have managed just seven goals during the current slump and rookie Alex McLeod is the lone Sockeye among the league’s top 20 scorers with 10 points in as many games. A year ago, Richmond had five players in the top 10 of league scoring. All have since moved on.
In their most recent home outing, the Sockeyes jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead over the last place Port Moody Panthers but couldn’t find the net again, eventually falling 3-2 in overtime. The visitors tied the game with 2:07 remaining, then notched the winner at the 1:43 mark of the second overtime period for just their second victory in nine games.
One night later in Abbotsford, it was a similar script as Richmond watched a 2-1 first period lead evaporate in a 3-2 defeat to the Pilots.
