It was about as dominant of a campaign that has been produced in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League but the veteranloaded Richmond Sockeyes have hardly rested on their laurels.
Having selected basically their entire roster in July and skating on a regular basis since, the defending PIJHL champions finally get to work on Thursday night when the Mission Icebreakers visit Minoru Arena at 7: 30 p.m.
Last season, the Sockeyes won 37 of 48 regular season games then, with an exception of a seven game conference final against the Delta Ice Hawks, steamrolled through the playoffs. It was a convincing run that even surprised head coach Judd Lambert.
"Looking back, I think the league had bit of a down year, he said. "I think we were decent top to bottom but didn't have any super-stars."
With the vast majority of his roster returning, Lambert still insists his team needs to be better, not just to hold off what's expected to be another strong challenge from the Ice Hawks, but to contend for a provincial championship. Last year, the Sockeyes missed the podium at the Cyclone Taylor Cup.
"When you build a reptutation, kids want to play for you," said Lambert of his team's dominance in the past few seasons. "If (Richmond and Delta) are the two strongest teams in the league every year then that's what the rest of the league has to deal with. I'm not really too concerned about how everyone else is fairing."
The Sockeyes' only question mark might be in net after Seafair grad Aaron Oakley cracked the roster of the Ontario Junior Hockey League's Toronto Jr. Canadiens.
Another local product - Kootenay Alder - will help fill the void after playing for Richmond Minor at the Midget A1 level last season. The club also signed Jonah Imoo, the 17-year-old son of former Western Hockey League goaltender Dusty Imoo, who spent most of his pro career in Japan. Jonah played for Semihamoo's Midget rep team a year ago.
"Kootenay has been good from the start of camp and we know Jonah from watching him last year. He will be affiliated with Powell River (BCHL) and we think he will be solid," added Lambert."
