DELTA, B.C. – The streaking Delta Ice Hawks returned to Sungod Arena for their first Saturday night home action since descaling the Richmond Sockeyes back on October 4th. In the intervening games, they split a 1–1 home mini-series against the Coastal Tsunami, fell short in a comeback effort against the Ridge Meadows Flames, struck down the Port Coquitlam Trailblazers, and were stunned by the Burnaby Steelers. A rollercoaster of an October was at last winding down, with the Hawks seeking sustainability. Their next opponents were the Trailblazers, whom the Hawks had vanquished just eight nights before.
Hawks goalie Armaan Kaila returned to his spot between the pipes, looking to extend his win streak to two in as many games against the Trailblazers. At the other end of the ice stood Shay McVicker, seeking his first PJHL win.
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1st Period
The game started out tentatively enough, with both sides testing the water. Trailblazers forward Imaan Atwal put the puck over the glass, prompting a delay of game penalty.
Hawks forward Beckett Cross, having scored the most recent goal at Sungod back on October 12th, broke open the scoring with his eighth of the campaign just past the halfway point of the period. Defender Owen Cooper and forward Noah Hoglund notched the assists.
Soon thereafter, Brogan Kennedy worked his magic to double up his team’s lead with his fifth goal of the season, cashing in on assists from fellow forwards Lucas Jakubec and Keeghan Dunn.
Delta’s offensive machine kept on motoring, with forward and alternate captain Devun Olfert collecting his fourth goal with the Hawks, with the assist coming from Ryan Ashe.
The Hawks did not escape the first period fully unscathed, as defender Ryder Dunn found himself in the box for tripping; a penalty set to partially carry over to the next period.
The dust settled on the first frame with the Ice Hawks out to a rollicking 3-0 lead, turning three of their 14 shots against McVicker into goals. Likewise, the Trailblazers were stonewalled by Kaila, who turned aside all nine of their recorded efforts.
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2nd Period
Olfert pounced quickly, with his team back at even-strength, to secure his second goal of the night and increase the Hawks’ stranglehold on the contest. Cross and Kennedy added assists on Olfert’s second marker as all three forwards joined the multi-point club simultaneously.
The next goal would, however, come unassisted, but still a cause celebre for Delta: Olfert completed the natural hat-trick, doubling his goal total on the season in just 16 minutes and 57 seconds of game time. Hat-Trick-or-Treat, indeed.
Hawks forward Hudson May took the period’s only penalty, a tripping minor much like Ryder Dunn’s in the first frame.
Nonetheless, the Ice Hawks skated off with five goals to their credit, while the Trailblazers continued to be stymied and suppressed by Kaila, who stopped nine more shots from his opponents.
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3rd Period
A case can certainly be made that a 5-0 lead is the most dangerous in hockey. This writer has seen contests much like this one quickly evaporate, going from magic to tragic in the drop of a puck. Spookier things have happened in the waning days of October, after all. Perhaps the Hawks had this in mind as they locked in for the final 20 minutes of game play.
Hawks captain Grady Lenton was conspicuously absent from the scoresheet thusfar tonight, having put away hat-tricks in his previous three road games. Instead of a goal or assist, his next impact to the scoresheet would come as a tripping call, while Trailblazers forward Liam Steacy was assessed a holding penalty to keep the game at even-strength.
Both players were back on the ice by the time of the next penalty call, against Port Coquitlam’s Brady Reed for slashing.
A high-sticking penalty to Delta’s Dylan Stafford put his team down a man just a minute into Reed’s penalty. With Reed freed and Stafford still sitting, the Ice Hawks secured their sixth snipe whilst short-handed, from Ryder Dunn. Brandon Petrie and Cross collected the apples.
A final power-play chance for the Trailblazers arrived with Hoglund in the box for interference, but the Hawks would instead weather the storm and drive the final nail into the coffin as Kennedy put home his second goal of the game, a 7-0 tombstone of a goal. Lenton and Keeghan Dunn earned the assists.
Port Coquitlam’s Tait Humphries went to the sin bin for slashing, signifying the final entry on the scoresheet before the final buzzer sounded. The Ice Hawks were victorious by a 7-0 margin.
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3 Stars of the Game
- Delta Ice Hawks forward Brogan Kennedy paced his team to victory, scoring two goals and adding an assist as a more-than-worthy third star.
- Delta Ice Hawks goaltender Armaan Kaila was superlative, stopping all 29 shots he faced for the shutout and for second-star honours. Again, more than worthy of higher praise, if not for:
- Delta Ice Hawks forward Devun Olfert had a natural hat-trick. ’nuff said. First star, cut it, print it, goodnight.
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Next Game
The Delta Ice Hawks set their sights for Sardis Sports Complex tomorrow night: Sunday, October 26th, they will look to down the Chilliwack Jets in what is sure to be high-flying, high-octane hockey to close out the October schedule.
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