Eight nothing, 6-0, 10-0 and 7-0.
Looking at the Richmond Sockeyes' numbers after four games, the opposition can hardly feel bold about their chances against a stacked squad that's off to the most dynamic start to the Pacific International Hockey League season in years.
Next up, the Port Moody Black Panthers.
The surging Sockeyes visit PoMo Rec Complex on Saturday, 7:45 p.m., for what's expected to be an incredible challenge for the spry, young Cats, who, with two wins and two overtime losses thus far, can hardly be considered pushovers.
"No, I haven't seen [the Sockeyes] play yet but I know quite a bit about them," said Black Panthers general manager Ron Luniw. "I do know this. They have 12 or 14 players who've been with them for three years. They're good players to begin with but they're even better when they have that much time to gel."
Granted, the Sockeyes' four convincing victories have come against teams that are either struggling to find talent or are rebuilding from the ground up. Richmond beat the lowly Mission Icebreakers twice, the new-look North Vancouver Wolf Pack and the floundering Ridge Meadows Flames, who have lost all five of their games to date and have been out-scored by a staggering 34-4 count.
While Luniw lost two key players to the Junior 'A' ranks with Brandon Milln's departure to Saskatchewan and defenceman Ryan Panichelli's graduation to the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers, the Sockeyes seem to be able to keep most of their top guns year after year.
"They have so many players on that hockey club who've gone on to Junior 'A' but come back," Luniw said. "I don't know how they do it but somehow they do."
JOHANSEN STICKS WITH NHL
Port Moody's Ryan Johansen made the final cut with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets and is expected to be in their line-up tonight (Friday) when they host the Nashville Predators in their regular-season opener. The Jackets have nine games to determine if Johansen will stick with the club or be sent back to his major junior unit, the Portland Winterhawks.
"His camp is still going on," said Blue Jackets head coach Scott Arniel. "He's been OK. I think there's more to come [from him]. He's still learning the game."
