The North Delta Devils failed to avoid elimination Wednesday night in Richmond, and their Pacific Junior Hockey League season has come to an end.
The Devils fell 4-3 to the Richmond Sockeyes, and lost their best-of-seven quarterfinal series 4-0.
Rudi Thorsteinson of the Sockeyes gave the home team a 1-0 lead after one period. Former Devil Adam Nishi made it 2-0 two minutes into the second, forcing North Delta to play catch-up the rest of the night.
Three times the Devils pulled to within a goal, and twice the Sockeyes answered quickly.
Colin Catchpole cut the difference to 2-1 at the 14-minute mark of the second period, but just 65 seconds later, Danton Heinen restored Richmond's two-goal lead.
Catchpole assisted on a goal by Surrey native Rajan Bains, which again pulled North Delta to within a goal. Two minutes later, a power play goal from Daniel Tait increased the lead to 4-2 after 40 minutes.
Benjamin Vikich, also of Surrey, gave North Delta some hope late in the third period, scoring his first of the playoffs with five minutes to go.
Tyler Read turned aside 37 of 41 shots while in the Devils goal, and was named the game's third star.