Aiden McGregor-Bennett’s goal seven minutes into the game had the teddies flying to the ice and started the Hawks off on their way to a 6-1 win against the Grandview Steelers on Teddy Bear Toss Night.
Teddy Bear Toss Night arrived at the Ladner Leisure Centre on Tuesday night and the Ice Hawks put on a good show for the fans, winning 6-1 over the Grandview Steelers.
Merik Erickson made 28 of 29 saves on the night, and kept the Hawks on top through some
The teddies went flying just over halfway through the first period, as Aiden McGregor-Bennett finished off a pass through the slot from Colin Jang, McGregor-Bennett’s eighth goal of the year and the only marker in the first 20 minutes.
There were three goals for the home team in the second period, starting with Conner Merriman skating out of the Hawks’ zone with Kyle Robinson. Merriman kept the puck until the last possible second before passing to Robinson for an easy tap-in.
Carson Merriman added on not long after that, skating into the slot as Carson Hemenway took a shot from the point and Merriman was able to tip the shot, redirecting it past Shayan Kermany for his fifteenth of the season.
Grandview’s Steven Konechny got the Steelers on the board, wide open for a pass in the slot and he beat a screened Merik Erickson to break the shutout halfway through the period.
The Hawks got their three-goal lead back, as the Grandview defence followed two Hawks to one side and Caelan Mander broke in as a trail. Mander got the pass and took a shot and was stopped by Kermany, but Brayden Sinclair was there to clean up the rebound.
In the third, Carson Merriman broke into the Grandview zone and after dekeing through a few Steelers, dished a pass to Robinson in the middle. Robinson went high over Kermany’s shoulder for his second of the game and ninth of the year.
Late in the game, Austin Kofler went on the forecheck and capitalized on a misplay by a Grandview defenseman – stealing the puck behind the net and passing to a streaking Jang for a one-timer to make it 6-1 final for Delta.
