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Richmond Sockeyes JR A Hockey team 2024 - 2025.

Photo via richmondsockeyes.com

L to r: MLA Kooner, MLA Chan, Mayor Brodie, President Paterson, Councillor McNulty, MP Miao, MP Bains.

Photo courtesy Steve Erickson

Sockeyes enter new chapter, tier one Junior A Hockey

By Steve Erickson

Published 11:30 PDT, Fri April 11, 2025

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As fast as one season wraps-up it’s time to focus on any and all changes that must have a positive impact setting in place—a winning mandate for the upcoming season.

Reflecting on last season the Richmond Sockeyes had an impressive record of 32 wins. 11 losses, 3 overtime losses and 2 shootout losses placing them in second place in the Tom Shaw Conference with 69 points.

While this is slightly down from the previous season it’s fair to say that changes were made in the off-season with graduating players moving on and others taking the next step in their Junior career.

Overall the coaching staff led by Cullen Revel took no time off and once the previous season was wrapped-up their sights were set on the new season.

One graduating player last season was Team Captain Matthew Stewart who played with the Sockeyes for the previous three seasons and finished with a record of 35 goals, 61 assists along with 20 power play goals.

With Matthew moving on, he was rewarded with a new role being player development coordinator and assistant GM and with his loss it meant they would need to find someone who could fill the void he left behind.

In doing so they promoted Teo Lin to the role of Captain who was one of the team leaders both off and on the ice the previous season.

Leadership begins and starts with both ownership and management who strongly rely on the roster they put in place to keep the team heading in the right direction which has the team taking major steps for the upcoming seasons.

Press Conference

On March 20, 2025 The Richmond Sockeyes, President Doug Paterson announced exciting news in a press conference at Minoru Arena. Present from the media: Global News, Richmond Sentinel, and Sportswave TV. Also in attendance PJHL Commissioner Trevor Alto, Mayor Brodie, Councillor McNulty, MP Miao, MP Bains, MLA Chan, MLA Kooner, former and current Sockeye players and the Sockeyes’ management team.

As one season came to an end the Sockeyes excitedly announced the next chapter in their story as they move forward in BC Hockey, announcing they will be entering Tier One in the PJHL

With one league stepping away from both BC Hockey and Hockey Canada that alone opened the door for the PJHL to put the pieces in place to represent BC playing for a National Championship. The process was long and arduous but after the long process of an overall assessment it was officially announced the Sockeyes are taking the next step forward in the PJHL and BC Hockey.

The Sockeyes have a long-standing relationship with the City of Richmond not only for hockey but also showcases how unique it is with the city dating back to their National Championship win in the 86-87 Title.

This July the Champion Richmond Sockeyes will be inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame in Penticton and as Richmond’s Mayor Malcolm Brodie mentioned “The Sockeyes have built a long-standing tradition which is more than playing hockey.”

Mayor Brodie continued to mention “The Sockeyes, regardless of where they go, are welcomed by so many of today’s youth who reach out to them, which is a dream come true for so many youngsters.”

Moving forward the Sockeyes are the first team in the PJHL to officially announce that they are advancing to Tier One status for Junior Hockey in BC which by the way, was a two-year process.

This would not and could not be made possible without the dedication from the numerous dedicated volunteers some who are with the Richmond Special Olympics.

As a special personal note, Doug Paterson owner of the Richmond Sockeyes was presented with the prestigious recognition of receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

The next article we’ll focus on the final Sockeyes Banquet wrap-up.

The Richmond Sentinel are proud to have played a supportive role in this season and equally proud to have the opportunity to meet the players and management team. The players are from age 16 to age 20 and some move away from their family to Richmond to play for the Sockeyes so they are billeted in the homes of local residents. In an interview with the players every one of them said “we were treated like family.”