The biggest surprise through the opening weeks of the Pacific Junior Hockey League regular season just so happens to be the defending Cyclone Taylor Cup champions.
The Richmond Sockeyes welcomed back just three players from last year’s championship team yet their youthful roster has them entering this week’s play as the only unbeaten club in the junior “B” circuit.
Richmond made it five wins in six games (5-0-1-0) with a dominating 7-2 triumph over the North Vancouver Wolf Pack on Saturday. The visitors jumped out to a commanding 5-0 lead after one period and cruised the rest of the way behind the 37-save performance of Jeremy Kelleway.
The 19-year-old Delta Hockey Academy product has a 1.89 goals against average and a .946 save percentage in five starts.
The attack was paced by a hat trick from Craig Schouten — giving the 17-year-old Surrey native six goals in as many games. Blueliner Thomas Von Schoenberg added a pair while Marcus Pantazis continued his impressive rookie campaign with a goal and an assist. He is fourth in league scoring with 11 points.
Edvon Haskovic, who was acquired in a trade with North Vancouver last week, came back to haunt his old team with a goal and an assist. The 20-year-old also had a goal and two helpers in Thursday’s 5-2 win over Grandview at Minoru.
Richmond will look to extend its unbeaten streak to seven games when the Aldergrove Kodiaks (2-5-0-0) visit Minoru on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Sockeyes also travel to Port Moody on Saturday night.
