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Richmond Sockeyes JR A Hockey team 2024 - 2025.

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Sockeyes eliminate Whalers in six games

By Steve Erickson

Published 11:17 PDT, Wed March 12, 2025

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PJHL Playoff action continued in Richmond with the Sockeyes pulling out a win in the first two games, managing ten goals, while they allowed three, with the team focused on wrapping up the series knowing that it wouldn’t be an easy task.

Regulation league play saw the Sockeyes finish with 69 points and a record of 32 wins, 11 losses, 3 overtime losses, and 2 shootout losses, while the Whalers managed 63 points and a record of 29 wins, 14 losses, 5 overtime losses, and zero shootout losses in league play. Richmond would rely on the team leaders such as Captain Teo Lin, William Huo, and Nicholas Noren to lead the charge and set the tone for the entire team whose motivation wouldn’t be an issue.

To the surprise of no one, the Whalers led by Ty Balchen, opened the scoring on a power-play goal halfway through the first period. The Whalers would hold a 1-0 lead until 1:02 into the third period, when Max Shin would even up the score for the Sockeyes.

Pressure would be a continuing factor in the game that would see Teo Lin put the Sockeyes up by a 2-1 margin at the 13:40 mark, only to have the Whalers’ Quinn Orr even the scoring at 18:37 forcing overtime.

Overtime was entertaining with the fans getting their money’s worth, that would see the Whalers score the O/T winning goal at 7:06 getting them back into the series.

Returning to home ice, fans would see a “new look” Sockeyes squad, in a contest that saw them squander the first goal at 5:56 in the first period. That alone proved to be a motivator for the Sockeyes as they took control.

The second period saw both William Huo and Alex Kielmann score a goal each, while Teo Lin and Nicholas Noren added to the score in the third, pulling out a 4-1 victory. In the series leading up to game 5, the Sockeyes scored 19 goals, while giving up only 13 to the Whalers.

Game six was a must-win for the Whalers to keep the series and their playoff dreams alive. Playing in an aggressive environment can prove exhausting for any visiting team but that isn’t something new for the Sockeyes in a game that would see both teams with their regular starters.

Garin Wichstrom, who recorded a 0.913 save percentage and a 3.17 Goals Against Average (GAA) in the regular season, faced off against Sockeyes’ Max Fowle, who had a 0.925 save percentage and 2.36 GAA. Both were focal points in game six with “nerves of steel” on the line.

Richmond got the jump as Nathan Gray scored a power-play goal at the 2:30 into the first, followed by William Huo giving the Sockeyes at 2-0 lead at 5:34 into the first period. The Whalers responded with their first goal at 6:18 followed by the typing goal at 18:07 on the power-play, leaving the teams tied after the first period.

The second period saw the Sockeyes add to their lead, scoring three, with Beaudy Beaudin and Michael McIntyre getting goals on the man advantage. Late into the second period, Nick Kovich would net one “top shelf” at 18:39 as the Sockeyes headed back to their locker room with a 5-2 advantage after 40 minutes.

The Whalers were entering desperation mode heading into the third period, as they needed a win if they were to keep the series and their playoff hopes alive. In a fight to the finish, the Whalers scored a goal 9:21 into the third period making it 5-3, but were unable to penetrate the solid defensive play of the Sockeyes. Max Shin would score an empty net goal at 19:37, sealing the result of the game and the series.

In a hard fought contest, the Whalers outshot the Sockeyes 35-33, but it was on the power play that made all the difference, the Sockeyes scored three goals on four power play opportunities while the Whalers just managed two goals on five chances.

The win has the Sockeyes advance to the Tom Shaw Conference Finals in the ‘Tunnel Series’ match-up against the Delta Ice Hawks.

At the time this article was posted, the Sockeyes find themselves down 3-0 in the series after a heartbreaking loss in overtime in Game 3, and will now focus on Game 4 on March 13 at the Minoru Arena.