DELTA, B.C. – It’s bound to be a watershed moment for the Delta Ice Hawks, back on home ice tonight following two unkind outings to the tri-cities. The Port Coquitlam Trailblazers have wrested control of the first round of the Stonehouse Cup Playoffs by a margin of two games to one, putting the Hawks’ backs to the wall. However, in a series so far defined by home ice advantage, Delta’s birds of prey will strive to make the Ladner Leisure Centre all the more difficult to play in. The mission is clear: even up the series.
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PLAYERS TO WATCH
• Port Coquitlam Trailblazers forward Matthew Biros, who has been no stranger to the scoresheet with three goals and three assists versus Delta, was surprisingly absent from Game 3’s box score. The 2005-born forward from Coquitlam is in his penultimate season of junior hockey, and has nearly matched his regular season point total (15 pts in 12 games) in the post-season (11 pts in 5 games).
• Delta Ice Hawks forward Mateo Sjoberg has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. The 2004-born forward from Surrey has thus far logged four assists in three playoff games, including three helpers in Delta’s Game 1 victory, but has yet to score a goal in these playoffs. Expect that to change sooner rather than later as the Hawks’ franchise leader in single season goals and points often performs his best in the face of adversity.
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The Ice Hawks elected to return to Merik Erickson in the role of starting netminder, while the Trailblazers stuck to their game plan with Keiran Caughran between the pipes for his sixth consecutive postseason game. First blood was drawn by Mateo Sjoberg, whose early tally assisted by Grady Lenton and Danylo Bereza marked his first goal of the playoffs. Perfectly poised for a breakout performance, Sjoberg potted his second of the game in rapid fashion to double the lead. Next to join in on the goal-scoring rush, Nick Goyer unloaded a shot from the top of the circle that got past Caughran to triple the lead, a goal which gave Louie Sim and Dawson Toledo their first points of the playoffs. With Delta defender Dylan Stafford taking the contest’s first penalty, a tripping minor, Trailblazers captain Markus Jack capitalized quickly to end the burgeoning shutout effort by Erickson. Port Coquitlam defenceman Brady Reed was dispatched to the box for slashing, capping off a flurry of activity on the scoresheet as only 73 seconds elapsed from Goyer’s goal to Reed’s infraction. Nearing the end of the first, Lenton put forth an incredible effort, burning Poco blueliner Tait Humphries and nearly catching Caughran unaware. Lenton couldn’t get a handle on the loose puck with Caughran down, and as the Trailblazers eventually sent the puck down the length of the ice, Erickson moved down to freeze the puck. Trailblazers forward Bailey Ewonus ran Erickson while the latter was down, prompting a goaltender interference call and creating another power play opportunity for the Ice Hawks. A fracas broke out in front of Caughran near the end of Ewonus’ penalty, but the play was blown dead and the penalty expired, as did the period in short order. The teams exited the ice with Delta ahead by three goals to one.
Nominally, the Trailblazers have come out swinging in the second period throughout the series against the Hawks, but this time, Delta was ready to change the conversation as captain Tye Hemenway notched his first of the playoffs to return his club to a three-goal advantage. On the wall near the Trailblazers bench, Stafford took a hard hit from Poco forward Noah Iacutone which left Stafford down for an extended period of time. Iacutone ended up with a two-minute minor for boarding and Delta hopped to their next power play chance. However, much of the offensive pressure came from Port Coquitlam as Ewonus had a short-handed breakaway chance stopped by Erickson. Trailblazers forward Lucas Baxter also came close to scoring, though his shot pinged off the crossbar. With time running out on the man-advantage, Goyer scored his second of the game to make it 5-1, end Caughran’s night, and bring out affiliate goaltender Shay McVicker of the BCEHL’s Valley West Giants. A pair of coincidental penalties brought about some short-lived 4-on-4 play, with Reed off for cross-checking and Delta forward Brogan Kennedy assessed a slashing call. Port Coquitlam affiliate defender Kaden Meyer took a slashing penalty of his own to spur a 4-on-3 power play for the Hawks. Back to 5-on-5 even strength, Lenton muscled through to score his third of the playoffs to make it 6-1 and properly welcome McVicker to the game. A massive goal by Bereza widened the gulf between Delta and Poco to 7-1. Poco’s Nick Ferraro-Howling, trying to jumpstart his team, tried to mix things up with Lenton, and was ejected on a game misconduct and two-minute minor for roughing (served by Cam Trolland). On his way off, Ferraro-Howling treated the stanchion nearest to the bench door like a punching bag, nearly connecting with his own teammate Caughran in the process. Twelve seconds later, Goyer skated to the sin bin on a hooking minor, abbreviating the Delta power play chance. In the final minute of the period, Lucas Jakubec bullrushed the net and collected a stunning unassisted goal with 51.9 seconds on the clock. The Delta Ice Hawks successfully flipped the script, dominating the middle frame and leaving the Port Coquitlam Trailblazers with an 8-1 hill to climb.
A relatively quiet to the third period saw McVicker staring down a Delta offense that had eaten and left no crumbs, yet still hungered for more. With an offensive zone faceoff to the left of McVicker and Kendrick Lamar blasting over the speakers, Hemenway bombed home his second of the game, encouraging Poco fans to turn this TV off. More offsetting penalties would follow, with Poco’s Humphries and Delta’s Beckett Cross each sidelined for slashing. Goyer nearly converted on a dazzling chance to complete the hat-trick, but McVicker managed to see it through and prevent the Hawks from hitting double-digits in the goal category. A final penalty to Trolland, a roughing minor, brought the game to a close. The Delta Ice Hawks rebounded in grand fashion, winning the match 9-1 and tying the series 2-2.
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NOTABLE NOTES
• Forward Louie Sim made his playoff debut on Tuesday night. The 2006-born forward from Vancouver dressed in eight games during the regular season, nearly reaching point-per-game status with three goals and four assists for seven points.
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THREE STARS
• Delta Ice Hawks forward Mateo Sjoberg entered the chat with force and velocity, scoring his first two goals of the post-season in quick fashion whilst adding an assist and earning third-star accolades.
• Delta Ice Hawks forward Grady Lenton, the human cheat-code, had a monstrous presence throughout the game with a goal and three assists for second-star honours.
• Delta Ice Hawks defenceman Nick Goyer exercised his will upon the Trailblazers and the game, breaking out for two goals and three assists, locking in as first star in the process.
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STONEHOUSE CUP PLAYOFF SERIES SCHEDULE
• Game 1 @ Delta: 7-3 W, DEL leads 1-0
• Game 2 @ Port Coquitlam: 7-4 L, series tied 1-1
• Game 3 @ Port Coquitlam: 4-2 L, PC leads 2-1
• Game 4 @ Delta: 9-1 W, series tied 2-2
• Game 5 @ Delta: Thursday, February 27th, 8:55 PM @ Ladner Leisure Centre
• Game 6 @ Port Coquitlam: Sunday, March 2nd, 7:00 PM @ Jon Baillie Arena
• Game 7: @ Delta: Tuesday, March 4th, 7:35 PM @ Ladner Leisure Centre *
*=If necessary
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