It was the biggest night of the season thus far for the Richmond Sockeyes’ young guns.
The Pacific Junior Hockey League club’s No. 1 off-season priority was re-stocking its forward depth after losing its top six scorers from last season. The addition of junior “A” veteran Matthew Cox has helped fill the void as the 20-year-old has five points in three games.
Now the rookies are starting to heat up.
Seafair Minor product Alex McLeod had a hat trick and one assist to lead Richmond to an 8-1 road win over the Ridge Meadows Flames on Friday night. Fellow rookie Matt Davis chipped in with a pair of goals. While two more freshman — Noah Wozney and Spencer Berry chipped in with a goal and two assists each.
Playing on a line with Cox, who also had a big night with four points, McLeod scored in each of the periods as Richmond broke the game wide open with four goals in the middle frame. The 17-year-old completed his hat trick just 21 seconds after Cox had netted the Sockeyes’ seventh goal.
The result lift Richmond’s record to a league best 3-0-0-1 after a 4-1 win over the Mission City Outlaws 24 hours earlier at Minoru Arena.
Third period goals by Justin Schwartz, Tyler Paterson and Michael Tilbury broke a 1-1 deadlock. It was Schwartz and Tilbury’s first tallies as Sockeyes.
Veteran Kurt Russell made his fourth consecutive start in net and was outstanding, making 24 saves to earn first star honours.
A potential logjam in the goal crease was averted last week when Jakob Severson (Drayton Valley) and Nathan Alalouf (Estevan) earned roster spots with their respective junior “A” teams. That leaves Russell and rookie Quiten Paille to handle the goaltending workload.
The Sockeyes return to action Thursday when the Delta Ice Hawks (2-1-0-1) visit Minoru at 7 p.m
