The Richmond Sockeyes did their part to lift the Pacific Junior Hockey League past the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League in the inaugural all-star game.
Ryleigh Anderson scored twice and Craig Schouten added another as the PJHL skated to an entertaining 7-6 overtime victory on Sunday afternoon at the Ladner Leisure Centre.
Anderson opened the scoring on a set-up from Sockeyes captain Noah Kelly. He added his second in the middle stanza to make it 6-3, shortly after an unassisted effort from Schouten.
The VIJHL All-Stars dominated the third period — scoring twice to tie the game and peppering Grandview goalie Cale Dolan with 15 shots. A breakaway goal from North Vancouver’s Alex Suprynowicz ended the drama, 36 seconds into the three-on-three overtime session.
Mark Epshtein of the host Delta Ice Hawks was named to the PJHL Game MVP while Peninsula’s Riley Braun earned the same honours for the VJHL.
Icing…
The Sockeyes return to action on Thursday night when the Surrey Knights visit Minoru Arenas at 7 p.m.
Richmond enters the week maintaining a three point lead on second place Grandview despite a 4-2 home ice loss to the Steelers last Thursday.
Grandview was surprised 2-1 the following night in Abbotsford, while the Sockeyes blasted the Mission City Outlaws 8-1 on Saturday.
The two teams meet next Sunday for the final time this season at the Burnaby Winter Club in what could be a first round playoff preview, although fourth place White Rock is just four points back of Grandview with two games in hand.
