DELTA, B.C. – As the Stonehouse Cup Finals roll into the late stages of March, the Delta Ice Hawks find themselves in a rare and welcomed opportunity: a 2-1 series lead over the seemingly-infallible Ridge Meadows Flames with at least one more home game at the Ladner Leisure Centre.
By this point around two years ago, when the Ice Hawks and Flames were locked in the same battle for the PJHL’s ultimate prize, the tables were turned in almost every way: Delta with home-ice advantage, each team playing spoiler on the road, and Ridge defending a 2-1 series lead in Game 4.
While the sea change is working in the Hawks’ favour this time, they strive towards the same ultimate result as 2023: hoisting the Stonehouse Cup.
Starting Lineups
Ridge Meadows Flames
6 Lukas Ravenstein • 3 Jakob Loewen
21 Nolan Bowsher • 27 Joshua Bettesworth • 88 Zack Lagrange
Delta Ice Hawks
11 Danylo Bereza • 10 Mateo Sjoberg • 8 Grady Lenton
3 Tye Hemenway • 18 Jonathan Soares
First Period
The Flames began their attack early, peppering Ice Hawks goaltender Merik Erickson early and often. Ridge Meadows’ fifth shot of the game would be the first into the net, as deadline acquisition Matteo Appezzato drew first blood.
Delta plotted their response quickly, with coach Steve Robinson calling his team’s timeout instantaneously.
The Ice Hawks got some breakout chances, forcing the Flames to make some quick decisions. One of these plays involved Flames defender Morgan Clark clearing the puck over the glass, which prompted the first penalty for delay of game.
Flames netminder Matthew Candusso had to be sharp from the get-go, with top-line talents like Grady Lenton bearing down. Nonetheless, the Hawks were unable to generate their first goal with the man-advantage.
Shortly after Clark’s return to the ice, the Flames gained the zone and forward Zack Lagrange doubled up his team’s lead with his eleventh goal of the postseason.
By the midway point of the game, the Hawks held a healthy 14-8 lead in shots on goal, and would be gifted another chance with the man-advantage. Flames blueliner Jakob Loewen received the second consecutive delay of game penalty, prompting more special teams play. Once again, the Hawks would find themselves snake-bitten, bested by Candusso and his posts, much to the dismay of Mateo Sjoberg and his teammates.
Ridge Meadows would soon find their first opportunity on the power play, with Delta forward Brogan Kennedy dispatched for hooking. Nineteen seconds later, Flames forward Nolan Bowsher made no mistake as he put away his ninth goal of the playoffs.
With the clock ticking below the final minute of the first, the Ice Hawks threw everything they could. A swift shot from a streaking Evan Fedele went in and out of Candusso’s glove, and as the Flames goalie scrambled to get his glove on the puck, a small fracas broke out in front of the net.
Further chances from Tye Hemenway and the home side were fruitless, though the continued pressure boded well for the Hawks. Ridge Meadows carried their 3-0 lead into the first intermission, while Delta lead the shots-on-goal column 25-15.
Second Period
A flurry of activity opened the middle frame, as Delta affiliate forward Alexander Laing took a penalty for hooking. Quickly thereafter, the Flames extended their lead via Loewen’s first of the playoffs as the league’s best postseason power play continued clicking.
Appezzato would be the next Flame in the sin bin, his call was for high-sticking.
The lack of success on the scoresheet for the Ice Hawks was certainly not for lack of effort, considering that Candusso was by far the busier goaltender of the two. Everything they put on net had a concise and confident response. Undeterred, Delta continued to press their objective. All it would take to spark the comeback, after all, is one goal. Get one, and the rest will surely follow, especially from a Hawks squad that often scores in bunches.
Delta’s Danylo Bereza and Ridge’s Tyler Blatz both caught concurrent penalties, for slashing and cross-checking respectively. This brought about the first spat of four-on-four
The Ice Hawks got their first goal off a dazzling play, as Louie Sim found himself alone on a breakaway. With a cheeky move, he went five-hole and was the first to find daylight behind Candusso and get his club on the board.
True to their usual modus operandi, the Hawks followed their first goal with another, as Rajun Parmar swung the momentum firmly into the Hawks’ court, assisted by Sjoberg and Lenton.
A late tripping call against Ridge Meadows forward Pierce Whyte with less than five seconds on the clock set the faceoff to the right of the Flames goal, and the Hawks let loose a shot past a sprawling Candusso that appeared to be a literal buzzer-beater, though the referee was able to track that the puck did not fully cross the line before being swept away, waving it off emphatically.
Nonetheless, the Hawks found themselves in more friendly circumstances at the end of the second period, down by two and carrying the balance of their power play into the next period. Ridge lead 4-2 in goals, Delta held control of the shots, 37-29.
Third Period
Whyte was seconds away from leaving the box when Sjoberg, assisted by Parmar and Nick Goyer, slammed home his 13th goal of the playoffs in definitive fashion. The Ice Hawks got their third goal on the power play, pulling within one tally of tying.
The balance of the third period was an utter dogfight, with chances aplenty going up each end of the ice. Erickson made stunning saves, as did Candusso. The physical game ramped up significantly, with one seismic hit coming from Goyer in the defensive zone that energized the entire building.
Despite the crowd-thrilling chances, time was ticking away on the Ice Hawks. With 75 seconds left, Erickson made their way to the bench for the extra attacker. Ridge sent several volleys towards the open net, though none would make it on target.
As the final buzzer sounded, Parmar was assessed a penalty for checking to the head, though with time expiring, there would be no power play chance. The Delta Ice Hawks fell to the Ridge Meadows Flames by a final score of 4-3, with the Flames tying the series 2-2.
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NOTABLE NOTES
• The Ice Hawks welcomed affiliate forward Alexander Laing back to the lineup, wearing jersey number 27. The 2009-born Delta Hockey Academy product from Langley suits up for his third postseason appearance, playing previously in Game 1 versus Ridge and earning his first PJHL playoff point against Port Coquitlam on February 27th.
• For the opposing side, they called upon affiliate forward Callum McSherry, wearing jersey number 10. The 2007-born Coquitlamite from the Vancouver North East Chiefs program played in his fourth playoff game, having appeared in Games 1 and 2 of the finals, as well as one appearance earlier in the Harold Brittain Conference Finals against Chilliwack.
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THREE STARS
• Delta Ice Hawks forward Mateo Sjoberg was instrumental in the comeback effort, assisting on Parmar’s goal and adding a power play marker of his own to finish the game as third star.
• Ridge Meadows Flames forward Zack Lagrange put the team on his back, scoring a big first period goal and adding a pair of apples for a three point night, locking in as second star.
• Ridge Meadows Flames goaltender Matthew Candusso was superlative, stopping 45 of Delta’s 48 shots to secure first star honours.
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STONEHOUSE CUP PLAYOFF SERIES SCHEDULE
Stonehouse Cup Finals (league seeding in parenthesis)
(1) Ridge Meadows Flames vs. (3) Delta Ice Hawks
• Game 1 @ Ridge Meadows: 4-3 OTL, RM leads 1-0
• Game 2 @ Ridge Meadows: 3-1 W, series tied 1-1
• Game 3 @ Delta: 5-2 W, DEL leads 2-1
• Game 4 @ Delta: 4-3 L, series tied 2-2
• Game 5 @ Ridge Meadows: Friday, March 28th, 7:30 PM @ Cam Neely Arena
• Game 6 @ Delta: Sunday, March 30th, 5:30 PM @ Ladner Leisure Centre
• Game 7 @ Ridge Meadows: Wednesday, April 2nd, 7:30 PM @ Cam Neely Arena*
* = if necessary
Tom Shaw Conference Finals (conference seeding in parenthesis)
(1) Delta Ice Hawks vs. (2) Richmond Sockeyes (a.k.a. Tunnel Series 2025)
• Game 1 @ Delta: 5-4 W, DEL leads 1-0
• Game 2 @ Richmond: 8-4 W, DEL leads 2-0
• Game 3 @ Delta: 3-2 OTW, DEL leads 3-0
• Game 4 @ Richmond: 4-2 L, DEL leads 3-1
• Game 5 @ Delta: 7-3 W, DEL wins 4-1
Tom Shaw Conference Semifinals (conference seeding in parenthesis)
(1) Delta Ice Hawks vs. (5) Port Coquitlam Trailblazers
• 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: 5-1 W, DEL leads 3-2
• Game 6 @ Port Coquitlam: 7-1 W, DEL wins 4-2
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