The more things change the more they seem to stay the same in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League.
Three weeks into the regular season and the Richmond Sockeyes and Delta Ice Hawks are well on their way to establishing themselves as the teams to beat despite both clubs having a number of new faces in their respective line-ups.
The league's two best teams will meet on Thursday night (7: 30 p.m.) at Minoru Arena with first place on the line in the Tom Shaw Conference.
The Sockeyes (5-0-1) and the Ice Hawks (5-1-0) both produced a pair of wins last week, including dominating victories over the North Delta Devils.
After falling 8-1 to Richmond on Thursday, it got even worse for the Devils on home ice two nights later. The Ice Hawks exploded for five goals in the opening period and never looked back in a dominating 12-2 victory.
Veteran Anthony Brito continued his torrid start to the season with five points, including three goals. The 20-year-old leads the PIJHL in scoring with 20 points, including 13 goals. He is seven clear of Richmond's Daniel Tait and has recorded three hat tricks in just six games.
Defenceman Mark Whiteley also had a huge night, establishing a new franchise record for most points by a defenceman in a single game with seven.
He scored on a first period penalty shot and added six assists.
Mak Barden scored twice, while Tanner Gattinger had a goal and three assists. Other goal scorers included Ryan Cuthbert, Cody Gordon, Kristofer Melna and Michael Olson-Eyre.
Grange Gordon chipped in with three helpers as the Ice Hawks took advantage of poor North Delta goaltending to score 12 goals on just 25 shots.
