DELTA, B.C. – The Delta Ice Hawks came out swinging against the Abbotsford Pilots in the early moments of their Tuesday night duel at the Ladner Leisure Centre. Sending a flurry of shots towards Pilots netminder Jovan Dhillon, it was Hawks’ captain Tye Hemenway who broke through to earn his first goal of the season. Delta’s starting goalie, Merik Erickson, didn’t face as many shots initially as his counterpart but had to be just as sharp at key moments. Abbotsford got themselves on the board thanks to a passing play from Ashton McDonaugh to Connor Jarvis. Tied at one, the teams ended the 1st period with shots 24-9 in favour of the Ice Hawks.
Throwing nearly everything they had on net as the second period rolled onwards, Hawks forward Ryden Mathieson cleaned up on a golden opportunity in front of the Pilots’ crease to pull ahead by one. As was the theme of the night, the pendulum quickly swung in the opposite direction as Pilots forward Rhett Siaus returned the game to a deadlocked score (2-2) just moments later.
The tension that had been steadily building throughout the game reached a head in the 3rd period, as Abbotsford’s Mason Fitzsimmons and Delta’s Beckett Cross exchanged blows. With Fitzsimmons assessed two major penalties (a cross-checking call and a fight, plus a game misconduct) and Cross a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct (alongside his own fighting major and game misconduct), the Hawks eventually went to a power play opportunity where Hemenway scored his second of the game to restore the one-goal advantage. For the first time all game, Delta was able to obtain a two-goal lead with Mathieson scoring again.
The Abbotsford Pilots, now battling for their lives, let slip the dogs of war and unleashed tremendous pressure in the direction of Erickson. In a frenzied final minute, Abbotsford’s Cody Johnston scored twice to make up the deficit and force overtime, the score now 4-4.
Back and forth through nearly two minutes of overtime, Delta’s Grady Lenton provided the heroics to reclaim the win for the home squad, a final score of 5-4.
Delta and Abbotsford will have only a couple days of rest and reprieve before they return to battle against each other. The next game between these two clubs is this coming Friday, November 15th, 7:30pm at MSA Arena in Abbotsford.
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THREE STARS:
3rd: Ryden Mathieson (2 goals)
2nd: ABB 15 Cody Johnston (2 goals, 1 assist)
1st: DEL 3 Tye Hemenway (2 goals, assist on OT winner)
