Richmond, BC – The Richmond Sockeyes have announced plans to celebrate their 50th season of junior hockey in the City of Richmond. Over the last 50 years, a dedicated group of players, coaches, trainers, managers, volunteers, fans, owners, officials, and corporate partners have brought the excitement of Junior Hockey to Richmond. On Saturday, November 27, the Sockeyes will be facing off against their long-time rivals, the Grandview Steelers, in a game dedicated to the celebration of the last 50 years of Sockeyes Hockey. This game will be a part of a Hockey Day in Richmond, combined with minor hockey games presented by Richmond Jets Minor Hockey, which will be showcased throughout the day at Minoru Arena.
The Sockeyes Alumni will play a ‘feature’ game from 3:30-5pm, with the 2018 Sockeyes team playing a select Sockeyes Alumni team from prior years. A big crowd is anticipated with an outreach to Richmond Jets players and parents on this Hockey Day in Richmond, PLUS Sockeyes alumni from the past 49 years will attend and be recognized – including many from the original team of 1972-73.
To cap off this exciting, eventful day, the current Richmond Sockeyes will play a regular season game vs their rivals, the Grandview Steelers beginning at 5:45.
If you’re a former Sockeyes player, staff member, volunteer, even fan, and you’d like to get involved in honouring Richmond’s team, please reach out to event organizers Doug Paterson (dpatt@shaw.ca) or Will Kump (sockeyes.directorofoperations@gmail.com) for more information!
The Richmond Sockeyes are a Junior “B” ice hockey team based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. They were named the “Sockeyes” in 1972 by their original owner, longtime Richmond resident and B.C. hockey volunteer and leader Bruce Allison. Allison was motivated to bring top-level junior hockey to Richmond while also encouraging local players to play closer to home and stay in school. The Sockeyes franchise has had success as a Junior B team, and for several years as a top Junior A team in the PAC-A league and later, the BC Junior Hockey League. The Sockeyes have won nine PJHL championships, six Cyclone Taylor Junior B BC Championship titles, two Keystone Cup National Junior B Championship titles, two Mowat Cup BC Junior A Championship titles (winners of the PAC-A Junior League versus the BCJHL winners), a Fred Page Championship as BCHL champions and a Centennial Cup as National Junior A Champions (both in 1987). They also won the Abbott Cup and Doyle Cup in 1987 – defeating Alberta and Saskatchewan Junior A champions on their way to a national title. The Richmond Sockeyes currently play in the Tom Shaw Conference of the Junior B Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Sockeyes play their home games at Minoru Arena in central Richmond.
