With a 5-2 loss to the Richmond Sockeyes Thursday night, the Ice Hawks have now lost two in a row for the first time this season.
It started well, as Yuji Akimoto again opened the scoring like he did on Tuesday. This goal was a one-timer from the point off a pass from Ryan Bal that made its way through traffic and stayed slow, tricking Thomas Popa and giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Richmond got two after that, one on the power play and one at full-strength, for a brief 2-1 lead, but Delta came right back 30 seconds later.
Danylo Bereza stole the puck in Delta’s end and carried it up to neutral ice before banking a pass up to Mateo Sjoberg. Sjoberg made a move to get around his defender and scored backhanded over Popa’s shoulder while the Hawks were on the penalty kill to make it 2-2.
Unfortunately, that’s all the scoring the Hawks had. Richmond had two goals in the second period and one in the third, to take a 5-2 win and even the Tunnel Series 2-2.
The two will be facing off again on Sunday, January 7, following the inaugural Ice Hawks Alumni Game at the Ladner Leisure Centre. Alumni Game is at 4pm, followed by the Hawks and Sockeyes at 7:30. Admission to the Alumni Game is free for everyone!
