The Delta Ice Hawks got back to wining hockey following their first season loss to the Pilots.
They handed the “Panthers” a 6-1 loss in front of a large crowd of attendees from Delta Secondary.
The win allowed them to regain first place in the PJHL and this game had extra special meaning as the broadcast was dedicated the former owner of the Panther Mr. Ron Luniw.
It was important for the Ice Hawks to come out strong, not take the point difference lightly and stay out of the penalty box.
In the early going pressure from all lines created numerous scoring chances on the Panthers, a team that is clearly in the rebuilding stage.
Hawks “tender” Alexander Orth had to come up big stops in the early going of the game and managed to keep his club in the game.
The Ice Hawks opened the scoring midway through the first on a goal by Samuel Chatterley who easily beat Orth giving Delta a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers whose record may be poor continued to caused problems for the Ice Hawks as they got some quality chances to tie the game but Alexander Ahnert was up for the challenge.
With a short 2:08 remaining in the opening period Delta took a 2-0 lead as Rudin put one past a sprawling Orth of the Panthers. Heading to the intermission shots in the period were 9-6 for Delta
The second period the Ice Hawks kept the pressure on the Panthers just missing converting their chances early as Orth came up huge.
Delta’s expanded the lead with 11:53 left as Alex Dawydiak made it 3-0 securing a pass from Tanner Gattinger. .
Late in the period the Ice Hawks put the game out of reach scoring twice in a span of 10 seconds in the final minute.
The first goal came at 19:38 from “call-up” Colin Grannary only to be followed by a goal from former Captain Marc Letourneau at 19:48 extending the score to 5-0. Shots through 40 minutes were 24-13 for Ice Hawks.
Finally while on the PP the Panthers broke the “goose egg” for Ahnert as Daniel Delbianco got them on the board on a blast from the point making it a 5-1 game.
With 3:31 remaining the Ice Hawks added an insurance marker by Robert Johnson giving them a 6-1 lead.
Final shots in the contest were 36-19 for Delta as Alexander Ahnert improved to 3-0-1 on the year preserving the victory.
Delta saw its record improve to 7-1-0-1 good for 15 points, two up on the second place Grandview Steelers.