The Richmond Sockeyes are hoping to keep scorekeepers on their toes this season.
After earning a reputation as being one of the top defensive teams in the Pacific Junior Hockey League in recent years, first-year head coach Steve Robinson plans to loosen the reigns a bit.
The Sockeyes’ offensive production ranked seventh in the 10-team circuit last season and they did not have a single player average more than a point per game.
Their inability to score on the road was their undoing in a seven game opening round series loss to the Grandview Steelers — marking the third straight year they had bowed out to the Burnaby-based team in the playoffs.
Robinson believes there was already plenty of potential firepower in the line-up. He proved that by bringing back a number of veterans. The message all through training camp and the pre-season has been to finish scoring chances.
“It’s about changing their habits. I don’t want guys stuck in no man’s land. You are taking guys who are used to playing one way and you are asking them to play another,” explained Robinson. “I believe in building habits in practice and that’s where it all starts.
“You read and react in a game. I trust you and you trust me. That’s what I think works best.”
Robinson raised a few eyebrows in the dressing room when he suggested the number of goals he wanted to see his team score in the regular season is 235. That’s over 100 more than last year’s output (132).
“They looked at me like I was crazy,” he laughed. “I have our trainer clicking the number of goals at practice just to get that mentality. We’re making sure they are finishing every rebound because that has to be in their mindset.
“The last dominant offensive player they had here was Troy Kaczynski (74 points back in 2013-14). I think this team will be more balanced. Not necessarily a 50 goal guy but lots that could put up 20. That depth and balance I hope will be our strength.”
