The Richmond Sockeyes are a Junior “B” ice hockey team based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. They were named the “Sockeyes” by the original owner and longtime Richmond resident and B.C. 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 first captain of the team was Richmond product Doug Pate
rson – who is one of the team’s current owners. 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.
