RICHMOND, B.C. – Coming off a tight 8-6 win on Sunday afternoon, the Delta Ice Hawks stepped into the final day of the PJHL Winter Classic schedule loaded for bear and confident they could cap off the year 2024 with another victory. On the other side of the pendulum, the Aldergrove Kodiaks sought to strike on their final chance to claim a win before the calendar flipped to the new year. The two clubs collided for a 10:00 AM showdown at Minoru Arena with Imaree Dhaliwal tabbed to start in net for the Ice Hawks, his first game action since September and his first full game since September 14th in North Vancouver.
Though their season has not gone to plan so far, one thing the Kodiaks have on their side is an ability to quickly impact the scoresheet. Aldergrove forward Aidan Knutsen did exactly that, striking first less than a minute into the contest for his third goal of the season. Some minutes later, Delta got their equalizer by way of Ryden Mathieson’s 26th goal. Not yet done, Mathieson scored again 30 seconds later, assisted by Colin Jang. The pressure from both teams was palpable, with Delta putting 26 shots on Aldergrove goaltender Kyle Spak and Aldergrove firing 18 of their own on Dhaliwal.
The second period motored on with little fanfare, though a peculiar moment unfolded around six minutes into the frame. Dhaliwal skated towards his bench on the stoppage of play for some equipment maintenance, which prompted a brief, mandatory goaltending change and bringing Merik Erickson into the game for a single shift of 55 seconds. Retrieving his gear from the dressing room, Erickson waved to the fans as he skated out for a surprise appearance in the Delta net, facing a brief stint of pressure from the Kodiaks before a tripping call against Ice Hawks defender Owen Cooper brought the necessary stoppage to put Dhaliwal back into the game. Erickson took a bow as he headed back to the bench. They wouldn’t muster a goal on their man-advantage, but Aldergrove did get their tying goal after Delta’s penalty expired, as captain Matt Russell stormed in for his fourth of the year. At the end of 40 minutes played, the two teams headed off tied 2-all, with Delta adding another 16 shots on Spak and Aldergrove peppering nine shots on Dhaliwal (and one on Erickson).
The morning coffee seemed to fully kick in after the second intermission, with Brogan Kennedy scoring a quick go-ahead goal in a period utterly dominated by Delta. Mateo Sjoberg put his stamp on the game, joining Mathieson as the second Ice Hawk to put up back-to-back goals to make it 5-2. Declan Warburton followed Sjoberg’s second goal with one of his own, and spurred by the offensive outburst, Delta forward Teegan Sara earned his first goal of the year 23 seconds after Warburton. Kennedy’s game ended early as he was assessed a 10-minute misconduct with 3:21 left on the game clock, alongside a cross-checking minor penalty to Kodiaks defender Dhavin Dhillon. The game’s final goal came off the stick of Delta forward Eric Lee, assisted by Sjoberg on the power play, their sixth and final opportunity of the game. Skating to a surgical and decisive 8-2 victory over the Aldergrove Kodiaks, Dhaliwal stopped 29 shots in total, tested only four times by Aldergrove in the final period. Spak turned aside a whopping 65 of Delta’s 73 shots, including 25 saves on 31 shots during the third period, as the Ice Hawks let slip the dogs of war.
The Delta Ice Hawks kick off the new year with a special event, playing their Second Annual Alumni Game at the Ladner Leisure Centre on Wednesday, January 1st, with puck drop between the Old Guard and the Young Guns taking place at 5:00 PM. PJHL league action resumes next Tuesday, January 7th at Ladner as the White Rock Whalers skate back into town for a 7:35 PM puck drop.
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NOTABLE NOTES:
• Delta defenceman Nicholas Tsafalas returned to the Ice Hawks lineup for the first time since September 17th against Ridge Meadows.
• With his two goals today bringing his total to 35 on the season, Mateo Sjoberg returns to the top of the PJHL’s goal-scoring standings, albeit tied with Ridge Meadows Flames forward Zack Lagrange.
• Five Delta players concluded the game with multi-point efforts, including Mathieson (two goals), Jang (two assists), Sjoberg (two goals, one assist), Warburton (one goal, one assist), and Lee (one goal, one assist).
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PLAYERS OF THE GAME
• Aldergrove defenceman and captain Matt Russell managed a big game-tying goal in the second period to buoy his team’s chances, earning player of the game honours for the Kodiaks.
• Delta forward Ryden Mathieson notched back-to-back goals in the first period to spring his club ahead, and was recognized as the Ice Hawks’ player of the game.
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