Merek Pipes not only has a fitting name as a junior hockey goaltender, he’s proven to be a very valuable addition to the Richmond Sockeyes too.
The rookie stopper, who celebrates his 18th birthday on Saturday, has been superb in a near month long stretch that has seen the Sockeyes shoot up the Pacific Junior Hockey League standings with six straight wins.
The Victoria native turned aside 28 shots in Richmond’s 3-1 victory over the Ridge Meadows Flames last Thursday at Minoru Arenas. The result improved the Sockeyes record to 9-6-1, leaving them in third place in the Tom Shaw Conference and suddenly just five points back of the front-running Grandview Steelers.
It was back on Oct. 14 when general manager Richard Petrowsky pulled the trigger on a significant trade to break a logjam in Richmond’s goal crease. The club sent a pair of goalies — longtime veteran Curt Russell and Jack Stradiotti — to Ridge Meadows for future considerations.
At the time, the slumping Sockeyes had won just two of their last nine games. The goaltending reigns were turned over to Pipes and the Shawnigan Lake Hockey Academy product has made the most of the opportunity — going 6-1-0 with a 1.78 goals against average and a sizzling .942 save percentage, along with a pair of shutouts. He leads the league in all three categories.
Ironically, Pipes squared off against Russell in the win over the Flames. The Sockeyes chased their former teammate by jumping out to a 3-0 lead by the 14:10 mark of the opening period on goals by Ari Sky, Vaughan Bamford and Alex McLeod. That was more than enough for Pipes, who made 28 stops.
One night earlier, he was superb in a 2-1 road victory over the Harold Brittain Conference leading Aldergrove Kodiaks, as Richmond was outshot 36-21.
Brendan Marfleet’s goal in the late stages of the second period broke a 1-1 deadlock and proved to be the game winner. McLeod had given Richmond a 1-0 lead after 2-0 minutes.
The Sockeyes welcomed back captain Tyler Andrews last week who had been sidelined since Sept. 22. They return to action Thursday when the Port Moody Panthers visit at 7 p.m.
Icing...
The Sockeyes also have a potential veteran option in net after they acquired Seafair Minor Hockey product Jacob Latrace from the Delta Ice Hawks. The 19-year-old has been juggling his junior hockey career around a full-course load in UBC’s engineering program.
