Adding 20-year-old talent for another run at the Pacific Junior Hockey League championship reflects just how far the Richmond Sockeyes have progressed in the last three months.
The club continues to fine tune its roster with the addition of defenceman Ryan Wellburn and forward Nathan McCarnan in trades over the past couple of weeks with Ridge Meadows and Port Moody respectively. They have helped the Sockeyes steamroll to three straight lopsided wins, including a 13-4 drubbing of Mission on Thursday night. That came 24 hours after a 6-0 romp in Langley.
Richard Petrowsky says he is not done yet with one roster spot and two additional player cards available with the Jan. 10 deadline on the horizon. What shifted the Sockeyes longtime general manager into championship building mode was a start to the season few expected.
Coming off last year’s Cyclone Taylor Cup win and losing all but three of those players, it sure seemed like Richmond would be taking a step back this season. However, an impressive rookie class, coupled with MVP calibre goaltending from 20-year-old newcomer Jeremy Kelleway led to an unbeaten September.
The club then started to compliment this young core with veteran talent.
Alternate captain Isaac Embree had travelled a similar path to Kelleway, playing two seasons of junior “A” in Saskatchewan and was now eligible to play after skating with the team since training camp. Forward Edvin Haskovic, 20, was acquired from North Van, then Petrowsky added a pair of 19-year-old forwards with B.C. Hockey League experience — Noah Kelly and Nick Wilson.
Throw in the arrival of Wellburn and McCarnan, along with returning captain Matthew Brown and Jake Keremidschieff, and this team suddenly has more than enough experience.
For good measure, local product and 20-year-old veteran Alex McLeod returned home from school and joined the club for the win in Langley as an AP player, earning first star honours.
Adding to Richmond’s “all in” mode is the league’s new landscape that includes a balanced 44-game schedule and a playoff format that will see match-ups determined by the overall standings.
There no longer will be “wars” between Tom Shaw Conference teams trying to just get out of the first round. Right now, Shaw rivals North Vancouver, Delta, Richmond and Grandview have four of the five best records in the league and potentially wouldn’t see each other until the semi-finals if the playoffs started tomorrow.
“We seen there was a good opportunity there (to go for it),” admitted Petrowsky. “Now we are starting to toy with the roster and we’re not finished. We want to add another d-man and a forward.
“Wellburn had asked for a trade and told them Richmond was an opportunity for him if they were interested. We got the deal done in 24 hours. He is a great kid in the dressing room too that just fits right in. McCarnan and McLeod both like to go to the net and that was something we were lacking.”
The Sockeyes (19-7-2-1) will look to extend their winning streak to four games when Port Moody visits Minoru next Thursday (7 p.m.) for the annual Teddy Bear Toss Night. It will then be a trip to the Burnaby Winter Club on Dec. 23 to take on Grandview prior to the Christmas break.
The Sockeyes will also be hosting the annual PJHL Winter Classic Showcase — Jan. 4-6 with all 12 teams in action at Minoru.
