'Hawks have something to prove

Philip Raphael, Staff Reporter

Delta Icehawks' head coach Shane Kuss is looking forward to a tunnel series against the defending champion Richmond Sockeyes.

"We've definitely got something to prove to them (Richmond). They pretty much had their way with us in the regular season," said Kuss, the day after the Sockeyes beat the Port Coquitlam Buckeroos 2-1 in Game 7 of the semifinals at Richmond Arenas to earn a date with Delta for league supremacy.

Richmond coach Ron Johnson is expecting another exciting series against Delta (28-10-2-2), which finished three points up on the Sockeyes (26-10-5-1) for top spot in the regular season.

"They have a young, exciting team and Shane is a very good coach," said Johnson, who was an assistant coach with the Surrey Eagles during Kuss' rookie season as a player there.

Delta had the best powerplay in the PIJHL during the regular season, while Richmond was the least penalized team.

"I think we match up pretty well," Johnson said. "We may be a little more mature on defence but they have some veteran forwards (Kyle Ross, Dan Fortuna and Brandon Morishita) who are among the top scorers in the league."

The Icehawks' record against Richmond this year was 1-4-1.

Kuss said the veteran-laden Sockeyes were successful against his young side by intimidating them. But that should not be the case when the puck is dropped in game one set for Friday (Ladner Arena, 7:15 p.m.).

While the Sockeyes are coming off a dramatic Game 7 win, the Icehawks have been idle for nearly two weeks after earning a second round bye.

"We've been practicing really hard with some high intensity drills, but there's nothing that can prepare you fully for playoff hockey than actual games," Kuss said.

"There might be a little but of rust on our players, so we'll have to play some smart hockey in the first period."

A number of Icehawks (Brandon Morishita, Kyle Ross, Ethan Cox and Daniel Birks) all hail from Richmond, and are looking forward to beating their home team.

Miracle

Sockeyes pull off major comeback

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

Given the way this season has unfolded for the Richmond Sockeyes, where it seemed virtually every success followed a painful lesson, Monday's 2-1 victory over the Port Coquitlam Buckeroos in Game 7 of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League semifinal playoff cannot be viewed as a surprise.

But this story has all the elements of a Hollywood script.

The Sockeyes trailed the Buckeroos three games to none in the best-of-seven playoff before reeling off four straight wins, capped by Monday's victory at Minoru. It's the first time in league history a team has overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series.

Richmond coach Ron Johnson chalked it up to unselfish play and puck luck.

Johnson was quick to recognize the unsung heroes, players often forgotten in the shadow of their more offensively-gifted teammates. Cormac Brennan is one such Sockeye.

"He took a backseat role to a lot of players, but has become an outstanding team player. He played three shifts last night and took a beating in front of the net to score the tying goal."

Johnson, the PIJHL coach of the year, said even though the Sockeyes were on the verge of being eliminated last week in Port Coquitlam, they never felt they were down and out. Instead they believed if they continued to focus on the intangibles they had a chance of coming back.

Johnson said neither team should feel shame in losing.

Port Coquitlam jumped out a 1-0 lead in Game 7 on a late first-period goal by Zach Hamill, who picked up an errant rebound on a scramble and swept it past Russell who was down on the play. Richmond tied it 1:01 into the second period when Brennan converted a rebound at the side of the net past Buckeroos goaltender Grahem Lippert on the powerplay.

Defenceman Mark Bouchard scored the winner at 7:31 of the middle frame, swooping in from the blueline to roof a shot from the slot.

'Cats claw way to quarters

Inspired by fallen teammate, McMath makes gutsy run at B.C. championships

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

Steveston's R.A. McMath Wildcats didn't have to look far for inspiration at the B.C. high school boys' triple-A basketball championships this week.

The players made it a habit to drape Jordan Yttri's number 21 jersey over a chair on the sidelines during their inaugural trip to the provincial tournament at the PNE Agrodome, as a tribute to their teammate who remains in a coma following a car accident in Steveston last month.

"Every time we have a team huddle we cheer Jordan," said Elliott Smith, who scored a game-high 28 points Wednesday in the Wildcats' 80-70 comeback win over Abbotsford's Mouat Hawks.

"He's given us strength. He's always there."

The Wildcats trailed most of the way in their opening game, including by as much as nine points (55-46) with four minutes to go in the third quarter. But a timeout called at that point by McMath coach Phil Ens seemed to turn around their fortunes and Bryan Abrey's three-pointer with 5:38 to go in the fourth quarter tied the game at 67.

Smith put the Wildcats ahead to stay with a baseline lay up with 3:34 to play and then Kyle Watson (17 points) kicked off a 9-0 run to close the game when he hit the back end of a free throw with 2:20 remaining.

"We just kept chipping away," said Smith, a B.C. Under-16 player last summer. "We shut the door on their shooter and collapsed in the middle."

Smith said it was important for him to use his 6-foot-6, 195-pound frame to his advantage, and establish a presence in the paint.

"I outweight most of these guys by 20 pounds," he explained.

McMath's comeback was done without starting guard Jeff Chu, who fouled out of the game midway through the third quarter. But back-up Masumi Turnbull stepped in and proved to be a masterful replacement, effectively shutting down Mouat's provincial team player Danny Horner. Horner had 27 points, but most of those came in the first half.

"Everybody just picked it up (after Chu fouled out)," McMath coach Phil Ens said. "Masumi did a great job or running our offence.

"He's a phenomenal athlete who's as tough as nails," Ens said. "Give him an assignemnt and he focuses on that assignment. He's just one of those mentally tough kids. That's why he's on the national team in soccer."

McMath hoped their quickness would help them get past the North Shore's Argyle Pipers in their quarter-final game Thursday. But the Pipers, one of the pre-tournament favourites, simply had too many weapons in recording an 86-68 win.

Argyle shared the ball effectively, with five players reaching double figures led by Sinclair Brown with 23. Kevin Shaw and Scott Morrison, the Pipers' 6-foot-9, 225-pound centre, each had 14 points.

Watson was top scorer for McMath with 26 points, while Smith was held to eight. Watson was good on seven of 12 from three-point range.

The Hugh Boyd Trojans, which lost their opening game at the tournament Wednesday 76-53 to Cranbrook's Mount Baker Wildcats, rebounded to beat the Oak Bay Bays 83-74 in first-round consolation play Thursday. Nebojsa Aleksic had 46 points for the Trojans, one of the highest totals in a single game in tournament history. (The record is 58 by Sam Vandermeulen of Abbotsford in 1965). Hugh Boyd lost 71-56 to Nanaimo's Wellington Wildcats on Friday. Aleksic had 22 points for the Trojans, and Marc Gandossi 18. Ryan Davidson paced Wellington with 18 points.

The result of McMath's consolation-round game against Burnaby's Alpha Aztecs Friday was unavailable by press time.

Juvenile AAAs off to B.C. championship

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

The Richmond Blues are going to the provincial championships.

Aaron Matsuzaki's second goal of the game midway through the third period Wednesday gave the Blues a 4-3 win over league champion Chilliwack in the Final 4 Juvenile AAA Division hockey tournament played in Aldergrove. The victory gave the Blues the tournament title, putting them into the B.C. finals starting Thursday in New Westminster.

"We've had a very good year after a shaky start," Richmond coach Maurice Hamlin said. "The boys have worked very hard. I'm very proud of the guys."

Despite a depleted lineup of only one goalie, four defencemen and six forwards, Richmond jumped into a 2-0 first period lead against Chilliwack, which had a full complement of 19 players. Aldergrove bounced back to take a 3-2 lead in the second before Richmond rallied for the win.

Yoshi Hikida set up both of Matsuzaki's goals and also scored once for the Blues playing on a line that also included Nick Ozols. Goalie Dustin Murao was solid as a much bigger Chilliwack team wore down Richmond in a desperate attempt to garner a tie.

"They're a big team and our kids got pounded," Hamlin said. "But they just worked hard."

Jeff Langham was the hero for Richmond the previous night, in a 4-3 win over Vancouver Minor. Playing on a line with Michael McBurney and captain Mike Sznadel, Langham scored the winning goal in the third period.

It was a must-win as Vancouver had won its first game Sunday when Richmond tied North Delta 5-5.

Hamlin said defencemen Brock hayes, Jeff Kuzik, Brian Janes and Chris Michaels also played well for the Blues in the tournament. He also lauded the contributions of Midget A Division call-ups Sean Petrowsky (three points against Vancouver), Tyler Michaels, Tyler Muis and Bobby Poupart.

Richmond defeated all the teams they may face at next week's provincial championships.

And Hamlin said, "if the boys come to play I really think we have a good chance of going all the way."

Sockeyes climb back into semifinal series

Game 6 today in Poco, Game 7 if needed here Monday

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

A long, hotly-contested series between the Port Coquitlam Buckeroos and Richmond Sockeyes was predictable. Just not the path it has taken.

Everything seemed to go Port Coquitlam's way in the first three games of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League semifinal playoff, and the Buckeroos won every one of them to take an apparent stranglehold on the series. But their three games to none lead is now a one-game lead as the teams prepare to face off tonight (7:30 Saturday) at the Port Coquitlam Rec Centre.

Buckeroos' coach Bayne Koen suggested after Port Coquitlam's Game 3 win in Richmond that the bounces his team was enjoying early "could turn away from us." They did just that in Games 4 and 5, helping the Sockeyes record 5-2 and 8-3 victories respectively. And so now it becomes a best-of-three series, with a deciding Game 7 if needed back in Richmond 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Port Coquitlam general manager Ron Luniw told the Tri-City News Friday, "We didn't get it done (in Game 5 Thursday) but we're going to get it done Saturday."

Luniw noted the Buckeroos played most of the second period shorthanded, which he called "disgusting."

Richmond scored six powerplay goals, three of those coming in the middle frame. Port Coquitlam received 85 penalty minutes and Richmond 37 minutes.

The Sockeyes dedicated their entire practice Tuesday to the powerplay. The work obviously paid off.

"Our powerplay had been brutal," Richmond coach Ron Johnson said. "But we did a lot of experimenting to find out what would work."

Johnson said the Sockeyes also improved their transition game.

"Our breakout from the defensive zone was awesome," he said. "And our unsung guys forechecked well and were gritty and cycled the puck well. We got to the front of the net and the kids had to take some lumps but we got rewarded. It said if you want ice time this is what you're going to have to do."

Cormac Brennan epitomized Thursday what Johnson said. He opened the scoring at 1:03 of the first period, standing in front of the net to direct a shot past Port Coquitlam goaltender Grahame Lippert on the powerplay.

Richmond led 2-1 after 20 minutes before exploding for five second-period goals to all but put the game out of reach.

Port Coquitlam appeared poised to perhaps sweep the best-of-seven series Tuesday, taking a 2-0 first period lead against Richmond in Game 4.

They were up 2-1 after two periods when the Sockeyes got a break as Jordan Oye scored a powerplay goal 10 seconds into the final frame. That spawned a four-goal third period for Richmond, including a memorable winning goal by captain Taylor Henshaw who cleverly put the puck over Lippert's blocker.

While it might appear the Sockeyes have the momentum heading into Game 6, Johnson is quick to note the Buckeroos are a pretty good hockey club that won't give up.

"They're going to come out and play us hard," he said.

It should be a good cat and mouse game."

Atoms launch Ice Classic Tuesday

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

Richmond is set to take on the world at next week's Richmond Girls' Hockey Ice Classic.

The moms of local players face off against moms from all the other entries in a special game following opening ceremonies at the seventh annual tournament 8:45 p.m. Thursday at Minoru Arenas.

But that's sure to be just one of the highlights at the biggest female hockey tournament in western North America. More than 900 youngsters representing a record 55 teams are taking part in the Spirit of 2010 tournament which begins Tuesday and continues through Sunday at Minoru Arenas and the Richmond Ice Centre. All players will receive a commemorative puck and the tournament a Spirit of 2010 trophy and banner.

Teams from as far east as Edmonton and as far north as Anchorage are scheduled to participate in this year's classic. And tournament chair Pat Korenic said the response has been overwhelming.

"We started sending out the inititial invitations last June," Korenic said. "We had 77 register so we had put 22 on a waiting list."

Senior soccer honours top performances of '04

The Shamrock Rovers and All Blacks were the big winners Friday at the Richmond Senior Soccer League's annual awards banquet.

The Rovers received their third consecutive Alan Gaster Cup for finishing first in the Premier Division. In winning the title, the Rovers have qualified for the Keith Miller Cup competition this summer in Victoria when they'll be looking to defend their Provincial B Cup crown.

All Blacks received the League Cup, a tournament they won in November which featured all 30 RSSL teams. It was their fourth League Cup in seven seasons. They will also represent the RSSL at the Provincial B Cup tournament this summer.

The First Division crown went to a jubilant Islanders' team which won its first major trophy in its 10-year history. JP Malone's won the Second Division title with a 16-0-2 mark, improving on their inaugural season of a year ago when they were 7-8-3. Their first-place finish earns them promotion to the First Division next season.

Golden Boot Awards (top goal scorers in each division) were given to Peter Virk of the Players United (15 goals), Jason Leitner of the Wrestlers (23 goals) and Parminder Virk of the Old Boys (28 goals).

And for the first time in its history, the RSSL also recognized the top goalkeepers in each division-Craig Edwards of the Shamrock Rovers, Darcy O' sullivan of the ISSC Harps, and Jason Howe of JP Malone's.

Edwards had four clean sheets and was the only regular goalkeeper in the league to post a goals-against average below 1.00. (0.90). He won nine games and was involved in two ties in 11 appearances.

O'Sullivan appeared in all 18 of the Harps' games, earning 12 wins and five clean sheets while postding a 1.11 goals against average.

And in 14 games, Howe had four clean sheets and posted a 1.10 goals against average. He also scored two goals while being selected his team's most valuable player.

Prior to the awards banquet Friday, the RSSL held its annual all-star game with the Premier Division edging the First Division side 3-1 on penalty kicks. (the game was 2-2 after regulation) and the First Division players edging the Second Division stars 3-1.

The first round of the Challenge Cup (Premier Division playoff) goes this weekend. Shamrock Rovers face the Ravens Sunday at 10 a.m. at Palmer, Lansdowne Pontiac meets All Blacks at 10 at McNair, Players United plays Club India at 9 at Minoru, and Sportstown tackles the Dragons at noon at King George Park.

The President's Cup (First and Second Division playoff) also resumes with seven matches. Islanders meet DSBH at noon at McNair, Athletics and Ole tanlge at 10 at King George, AV United and the Old Boys meet at noon at Honda, Harps and Fairview square off at 11 at Minoru, Hammerheads and Cosmos meet at 11 at Mitchell, Aero Turbine and Subway play at noon at McMath, and Wrestlers and JP Malone's meet at 11 at Woodward.