Story by Steve Erickson
Politics is one area that I for one would never want to get involved in in part due to the fact that promises are seldom kept regardless of the party you are with.
Over the past few years I have had a good or better yet exceptional working relationship when it comes to various requests I have made with Carla Qualtrough who is currently Canada’s Minister of Sport and Physical Activity.
Politics aside and as everyone knows no one agrees on most things which have its pros and cons in the world simply knowing that we have other pressing issues.
As you can imagine I have probably been one of the many that has reached out several times asking her to attend various sporting events or at least requesting her presence, which for the most part she has been very open – naturally depending on her busy schedule.
I have had the luxury to attend various sporting events in the area that she also attended from the Robbie Burns Dinner to a Sledge Hockey where Canada hosted the US at the Richmond Oval to name only two.
She also attended a Canada Day event at the River House where we did a “live” Canada Day Celebration that saw Carla and other dignitaries grace our broadcast.
A few years back on one of the many Canada Day Celebrations we were “live streaming” I had arranged a call with Bal Gosal who was the Minister of Sport under Prime Minister Stephen Harper and ironically he actually “took our call” and apologized for being busy at the time.
We arranged a time to call back at a time he had given to us, he mentioned that he was busy and could not take our call as when he answered the call, he was “On The Mound” at the Jays game set to throw out the first pitch,
Interesting that when I asked how it went, he mentioned “He didn’t think that he would crack the starting line-up and probably get sent to the minors” which many at the River House got a laugh at.
So as you can see, reaching out to politicians isn’t out of reach and given the fact that if they aren’t overly busy they are open to taking the time to talk with and as you can imagine they must get some interesting, but strange questions.
Sports is the one area in which all are connected and given all the unrest in today’s world; sports puts all the unrest aside even if just for a short while.
Last week (October 17th) Carla sent out a press release indicating that she will not be running in the next election which is yet to be determined.
The press release reads as follows:
Statement from the Honourable Carla Qualtrough PC – MP
It was with mixed emotions – “big feelings” as my son would say that I recently advised the Prime Minister that I would not be running in the next election.
It has been an incredible honour to have served the people of Delta and Canada as MP and Cabinet Minister for the past nine years. Delta is a wonderful community. Deltans are caring and resilient.
Thank you for putting your trust in me and my team .You have invited us into your lives and shared triumphs and challenges. We have done great things. Together.
I am also grateful to the Prime Minister for putting his trust in me from day one. It was a great privilege to have led the work on the disability fine, including the Accessible Canada Act and the Canada Disability Benefit.
I am also honoured to have helped Canada through the Pandemic in my time as Employment Minister.
And as Sport Minister, I am proud to have led work on concussion protocols, increased support for athletes and started the Future of Sport in Canada Commission to address the safe sport crisis.
I am also thankful to my family for taking this journey with me. For nine years, we have navigated shifting time zones, constant good-buys and I have asked a lot of you.
Your Face Time smilies and words of encouragement kept me grounded and reminded me daily of what really matters.
It is time to move on, and I am excited to see what comes next.
Photo Credit - D. Laird Allan/Sportswave
Photo by Steve Erickson
Blake Fiddler and Adam Jecho scored goals 18 seconds apart late in the third period of Monday’s matinee to propel the Edmonton Oil Kings past the Vancouver Giants 5-4.
The loss drops the Giants record to 5-4-0-0 finishing their five-game Alberta road trip with a 2-3 record.
Vancouver got another two tallies from draft eligible forward Cameron Schmidt, who leads the Western Hockey League in goals with 11.
Ty Halaburda also scored a beautiful goal to tie the game 3-3, while Adam Titlbach scored early in the first for the Giants.
Similar to Saturday’s loss in Medicine Hat, the Giants got into some penalty trouble with a 4-3 lead.
They managed to kill off a tripping penalty with eight minutes left, but that same penalty killing unit was then stuck on the ice, which led to Fiddler’s 4-4 goal.
The Giants were then called for a bench minor, which led to Jecho’s game-winning power play marker with 5:25 left in the game.
CLICK FOR ONLINE RECAP WITH GOAL CLIPS
Matthew Hutchison was very busy on Monday, holding the Giants in the game early on with 16 first period saves. He finished with 33 stops.
Jecho had two goals for the Oil Kings, while Fiddler, Landon Hanson and Mirolsav Holinka had the other Oil Kings tallies.
GAME SUMMARY
The Giants came out sluggish – with Edmonton getting some high quality looks early – but Titlbach gave the Giants a 1-0 lead just 3:27 into the game when he chipped the puck from below the goal line off the back of goaltender Alex Worthington and in for his third goal of the season.
Edmonton responded less than two minutes later when Holinka took a drop feed from Gavin Hodnett and ripped one home from the slot.
Schmidt put the Giants back out in front 2-1 at the 8:38 mark after he received a diving pass from Aaron Obobaifo that left him uncovered in the slot off the rush, where he quickly went glove side just under the crossbar.
Edmonton responded by tying the game 2-2 before the first period ended, off the stick of Landon Hanson.
The Oil Kings grabbed their first lead of the game 7:08 into period two on a goal off the rush, when Lukas Sawchyn connected with Jecho on a cross-crease feed.
After some big stops from Hutchison kept the deficit at one, Halaburda evened the score on a great individual effort, when he entered the offensive zone down the left wing and powered his way to the front of the net, before chipping in his fourth goal of the season.
Just 1:27 after Halaburda’s goal, Schmidt scored his second of the game off a centering pass from Ryan Lin, who picked up his 11th assist of the season.
The third period was even between both sides, and the trouble for Vancouver only came late with some penalties, which led to Fiddler’s game-tying goal and then Jecho’s game-winner 18 seconds later.Blake Fiddler and Adam Jecho scored goals 18 seconds apart late in the third period of Monday’s matinee to propel the Edmonton Oil Kings past the Vancouver Giants 5-4.
The loss drops the Giants record to 5-4-0-0 finishing their five-game Alberta road trip with a 2-3 record.
Vancouver got another two tallies from draft eligible forward Cameron Schmidt, who leads the Western Hockey League in goals with 11.
Ty Halaburda also scored a beautiful goal to tie the game 3-3, while Adam Titlbach scored early in the first for the Giants.
Similar to Saturday’s loss in Medicine Hat, the Giants got into some penalty trouble with a 4-3 lead.
They managed to kill off a tripping penalty with eight minutes left, but that same penalty killing unit was then stuck on the ice, which led to Fiddler’s 4-4 goal.
The Giants were then called for a bench minor, which led to Jecho’s game-winning power play marker with 5:25 left in the game.
CLICK FOR ONLINE RECAP WITH GOAL CLIPS
Matthew Hutchison was very busy on Monday, holding the Giants in the game early on with 16 first period saves. He finished with 33 stops.
Jecho had two goals for the Oil Kings, while Fiddler, Landon Hanson and Mirolsav Holinka had the other Oil Kings tallies.
GAME SUMMARY
The Giants came out sluggish – with Edmonton getting some high quality looks early – but Titlbach gave the Giants a 1-0 lead just 3:27 into the game when he chipped the puck from below the goal line off the back of goaltender Alex Worthington and in for his third goal of the season.
Edmonton responded less than two minutes later when Holinka took a drop feed from Gavin Hodnett and ripped one home from the slot.
Schmidt put the Giants back out in front 2-1 at the 8:38 mark after he received a diving pass from Aaron Obobaifo that left him uncovered in the slot off the rush, where he quickly went glove side just under the crossbar.
Edmonton responded by tying the game 2-2 before the first period ended, off the stick of Landon Hanson.
The Oil Kings grabbed their first lead of the game 7:08 into period two on a goal off the rush, when Lukas Sawchyn connected with Jecho on a cross-crease feed.
After some big stops from Hutchison kept the deficit at one, Halaburda evened the score on a great individual effort, when he entered the offensive zone down the left wing and powered his way to the front of the net, before chipping in his fourth goal of the season.
Just 1:27 after Halaburda’s goal, Schmidt scored his second of the game off a centering pass from Ryan Lin, who picked up his 11th assist of the season.
The third period was even between both sides, and the trouble for Vancouver only came late with some penalties, which led to Fiddler’s game-tying goal and then Jecho’s game-winner 18 seconds later.
The Giants did have some good looks with the goaltender pulled, but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Vancouver forward Aaron Obobaifo left Monday’s game with an upper body injury. The extent of his injury is not yet known at this time.
Thanks to Vancouver Giants Play by Play Nathan Kanter for the press release!!!!The Giants did have some good looks with the goaltender pulled, but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Vancouver forward Aaron Obobaifo left Monday’s game with an upper body injury. The extent of his injury is not yet known at this time.
Thanks to Vancouver Giants Play by Play Nathan Kanter for the press release!!!!
Story by Steve Erickson
Whenever professional players get the chance to return to the “grassroots” level of the game they got their start in they never turn down any opportunity.
They remember not only who but also the team that gave them the chance that helped groom their skills to play at the pro level of the game.
One such individual who began his Junior career with the Richmond Sockeyes is Danton Heinen who began his career in the 2012-13 season finishing with 63 points helping the Sockeyes win the league championship.
Prior to the game he had a chance to talk with the Coaching Staff, Players and numerous volunteers, but when the doors were opened for young Richmond players to meet him, he was excited as they were.
In conversation with Danton he mentioned “When you get a chance to return where it all started and talk to the young players, for me personally it’s so rewarding to give back where I got my start in Junior Hockey.”
He advanced his career earning a scholarship to play at the University of Denver but first joined the Denver Men’s Ice Hockey team for the 2014-15 and was drafted by Boston in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft in the fourth round, 116th overall.
Following his collegiate career he joined the Providence Bruins finishing the 2015–16 season he played in four games with the Bruins, two regular season and two playoff games recording two assists.
He was selected to the 2017 AHL All-Star roster while helping the Providence Bruins qualify for the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs recording 18 points in 17 games.
He made his NHL playoff debut in Game 1 of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Leafs but was scratched for Game 6 that saw Tommy Wingels but played the following game.
He started on the Bruins’ first line against Steven Stamkos in Game 1 but saw the Bruins eliminated in five games.
In his fourth season with the Bruins he was traded to Anaheim (February 24th, 2020) for left winger Nick Ritchie then signed with Pittsburgh (July 29, 2021) signing a one-year contract.
He then went on to sign a PTO with the Bruins in September 2023 but was unsigned due to salary cap issues but re-signed with the Bruins.
He scored his first career hat trick against Montreal January 20,2024 and to the delight of Canuck supporters he was signed to the Vancouver Canucks July 1st signing a two-year deal.
It was clear to say that he was a “fan favorite” at the Richmond Sockeyes game!!
Welcome home Danton!!!
"Three Amigos"
Story by Steve Erickson
Keeping the winning tradition alive means not just out-scoring the opposition by a 14-9 margin but also getting involved in the community which continues both on and off the ice.
Captain Teo Lin leads by example, reaching out to fans of all ages prior to any game as well as having his team-mates follow his example.
Sunday’s game saw the Sockeyes travel to Port Moody in a contest that saw the home team grab the opening goal while playing shorthanded only to have Rajan Parmar even the game at one on the Power Play.
This was followed up by the go-ahead marker from Florida’s Beaudy Beaudin giving the Sockeyes a 2-1 lead after one in a period that saw a pair of minor’s to Port Moody and three to Richmond.
The second was scoreless but the third saw a strong start that saw them score a pair with the first from Bryce Strandt followed by an empty net goal from Alaska’s Burke Newton giving the Sockeyes a 4-1 win.
As strange as it sounds the Panthers managed to narrowly outshoot the Sockeyes by a 40-39 margin that saw the visitors unable to score on seven power play chances while the home squad notched one goal on three opportunities.
First star in the contest went to Richmond’s Burke Newton while Richmond’s Mathias Hasselmann was named second while Jovin Manhas was named third star.
Next up for the Sockeyes was a home contest that saw last year’s expansion Trailblazers visit the “Fish Tank” in a game that kept the fans entertained in what was best described as a “heated contest” keeping the officials busy.
The Sockeyes scored a pair of markers in the first with Beaudin (7) opening the scoring at 1:08 followed by their second of the game from Nicholas Noren (4) at 17:26 taking a 2-0 lead after one period.
The scoring continued in the second with Soares getting his first at 10:35 of the young season while Kovich (3) put them up 4-0 at 13:12 only to have the Trailblazers grab three in a span of 1:43 making it a 4-3 game.
The third saw the “Fish” not taking the bait, collecting a pair with the first from Noren (5) a short 29 seconds followed by Burke Newton (3) at 3:55 while the visitors Van Straten pulled them within two.
The final goal of the contest saw Noren get his sixth of the season and third of the game at 16:07 allowing the home squad continuing their winning streak in league play.
To no surprise the Sockeyes grabbed all three stars with Nickolas Noren named first star for his three goal performance while Nick Kovich and Beaudy Beaudin were named second and third stars.
The final home game of September was the long-awaited rematch from last year’s April 1st game seven against Ridge Meadows that saw them win the league Championship.
It’s fair to say the day prior the team held a “meet and greet” at Garry Point Park with players and Family members in attendance with the topic of conversation to Monday’s game.
The game was held on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which the Sockeyes and the PJHL fully support knowing that our thoughts are with their loved ones who were lost.
The lead-up to the game for myself and Jag was talking points of playing disciplined, sticking to the game plan and not deviating from the coaches game plan.
Utilizing a four-man officiating crew means that penalties are seldom over-looked that saw the Flames open the scoring on the PP at 8:03 followed by their second a short 1:18 later taking a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes.
The first saw the teams trade penalties while the second saw more of a jump from the Sockeyes managing to even the score at two as Nicholas Noren got them on the board at 11:31 followed by Nathan Gray with his first as a Sockeye at 15:17.
The even-up goal seemed to ignite the Flames who grabbed a pair with both on the PP taking a 4-2 lead to the dressing room noting that goal number four was at 19:56 of the period.
Shots after two saw the Flames hold a slim 26-18 margin with both “tenders” tested close in only to be denied by the steller play of both Flames Candusso and Sockeyes Hasselmann.
The third was a “tight-checking” period with both having several close-n chances that saw several long stretch passes at both ends of the ice.
As much and often as the Sockeyes pounded shots on goal they came up short with the only goal of the third off the stick of Noren at 13:06 pulling them within one.
Each team utilized their time-out that saw the Flames steal a 4-3 win continuing their winning way as the Sockeyes came up just short, but not without a strong fight to the finish.
