Thorsteinson leads Blues to within win of tournament title
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Updated: October 16, 2009 12:25 PM
With pre-season exhibition and three tiering games behind them, Richmond minor hockey’s top Midget team continued its strong play at the recent Kamloops A1 tournament.
After defeating Langley, Prince George and Littleton (Colorado) in the round-robin action, the Blues faced a solid Maple Ridge team in the semis. Maple Ridge finished first in its pool and Richmond second behind Kelowna in its.
Following a slow start, the local Blues were led by forward Rudi Thorsteinson’s three goals in a dramatic come-from-behind overtime win.
First-year player Mark Pearlman stripped the puck off a Maple Ridge defender with less than one minute remaining in the four-on-four overtime. His speed to the net and nifty backhand proved too much for the goaltender.
A gallant effort by the locals was not enough in the championship game. Facing Kelowna, arguably the top team in the province, for the second time on the weekend proved to much though Richmond kept to within two goals until midway through the second period (at 4-2) before Kelowna pulled away for an 8-2 win.
With only five players returning from last year’s team, Richmond is relying on the four 15-year-olds to step up.
Standout goalies Kootenay Alder and Brodie Burdeny were solid in all the games. Second-year player and assistant captain Corey Tasaka was a leader with his energy and skill.
Team captain Rudi Thorsteinson remarked, “It was important for us to learn to trust in each other and to learn to take our game to a higher level.”
Thorsteinson, who had 10 goals and seven assists in the tournament, has 18 goals and 11 assists in 15 games this season.
