DELTA, BC – It didn’t take long for the Battle of Scott Road, the series between the Delta Ice Hawks and the Surrey Knights, to get rolling on this chilly Tuesday night.
Tuesday’s match at the Ladner Leisure Centre began with a moving pre-game Remembrance Day ceremony, and saw an early Surrey power play converted into a 1-0 advantage. John Lopez scored for the Knights as Delta’s Blake Medalla, a late game-time addition to the lineup, sat for a slashing penalty. The Ice Hawks had a swift answer as Lucas Jakubec, freshly named to the BCHC Top Prospects Game roster, struck gold on a beautifully placed shot. His ninth goal of the season would knot the game at 1-all, setting the table nicely for the next tally. Grady Lenton, emboldened by his recent run of goal scoring, put away his ninth of the campaign to pull his club ahead by one and send the teams to their dressing rooms on a 2-1 Delta advantage.
A sturdy and steadfast Zach Shaughnessy held the line throughout the 2nd period with the Knights bearing down. Surrey’s Wendell Adriano put a puck on net that Shaughnessy stopped prior to the line, but the puck was forced through. Despite no signal from the officials, the Knights celebrated what they thought to be a game-tying marker. Upon further review, the referees determined that incidental contact with Shaughnessy nullified the goal. There would be no doubt about the next goal, as Delta’s Mateo Sjoberg muscled up the ice and notched his 24th goal of the year to double his club’s lead. Shaughnessy and his Surrey counterpart, Koen St. Hilaire, traded highlight-reel saves. Off a late 2nd period draw, Surrey’s Parkor Sarai scored to bring the Knights closer as St. Hilaire continued to stymie the Ice Hawks.
Surrey stormed into the third period with a head full of steam as Alistair Lau put away his second goal of the year to knot the game up at 3-3. St. Hilaire and Shaughnessy continued their duel of the fates, dropping jaws and stopping rubber like men possessed. By the midway point of the third, Delta had put 46 shots on St. Hilaire to Surrey’s 21 on Shaughnessy.
Pulling an airborne puck down out of the air, Delta’s Eric Lee swung his way into the zone and popped the water bottle to thrill the crowd and return the lead to the home side. However, Sarai had other plans as he scored his second of the night to bring the game back to its deadlocked state.
In overtime, it was Brogan Kennedy who provided the heroics for the home side, capping off a dazzling rush to the net and sealing the Ice Hawks victory, a 5-4 final.
The Delta Ice Hawks have a short turnaround as they return to action on Wednesday night in Aldergrove to tame the Kodiaks.
THREE STARS:
3rd: DEL 17 Lucas Jakubec
2nd: SUR 30 Koen St. Hilaire
1st: DEL 71 Brogan Kennedy
Highlights: https://youtu.be/zDzNAB0QxO8
