The Grandview Steelers continued where they picked off at Minoru Arenas, this time handing the Richmond Sockeyes a heartbreaking loss in their home opener.
Adam Rota netted the equalizer with just one second remaining and Tim Chow scored in the second overtime period to lift the visitors to a dramatic 4-3 victory. The last time the Steelers visited Richmond was their 3-2 game seven playoff win last March — ending the Sockeyes’ season.
Rota’s tying goal came after the Sockeyes’ Tyler Paterson was given a major for boarding with eight seconds remaining.
The son of former Vancouver Canuck Darcy Rota also had an assist on Chow’s game winner.
The Sockeyes had never trailed in the contest, leading 2-0 after 40 minutes on goals by Evan Thomas and Connor Alderson. Nicholas Wicks then gave his team a 3-2 lead on a power play tally with 1:30 remaining, setting the stage for Grandview’s late heroics.
Richmond had opened the Pacific Junior Hockey League regular season two nights earlier with a 1-0 win over the Delta Ice Hawks in Ladner.
The Sockeyes completely dominated the opening two periods but had nothing to show for it thanks to the heroics of Ice Hawks goaltender Jacob Latrace. The second-year Seafair Minor Hockey product turned aside all 49 shots, while the Hawks had managed just 14 on Kurt Russell.
Finally, Jeevan Sidhu broke the deadlock midway through the third period on one of Richmond’s 10 power play opportunities. Delta actually outshot Richmond 14-11 in the final 20 minutes as Russell stopped 28 shots for the shutout.
The Sockeyes return to action Thursday when the Mission City Outlaws visit Minoru at 7 p.m.
