Pivotal Game 6

With the Ice Hawks entering the game being down three games to two, this was imperative for them to come out playing as a unit and attacking the Steelers net.

In conversation with several fans prior to the broadcast on Delta TV, several were under the impression that Delta just might come from behind and tie the series forcing a game seven.

If you ask some in the hockey circles they will tell you that some expected Delta to have been eliminated by North Van Wolfpack in four straight games, but Delta fooled the sceptics and took the series in six.

Try as they might, Delta pressured only to have Grannary assessed a minor for Charging at 12:02 giving the Steelers the early PP.

Delta managed to kill-off the penalty only to have the Steelers put one past Latrace at 6:23 taking an early 1-0 lead to the dressing room with both Latrace and MacInnes each face 10 after one.

Delta again was in penalty trouble with Cuthbert taking the first minor for Cross Checking at 10:13 giving the Steelers the second PP of the game.

With tempers beginning to rise Scott was assessed a minor for Hooking, but the same stoppage saw Zenone and Wilson both assessed a minors for Unsportsmanlike Conduct at 13:17.

This saw the Steelers come out of the play on the PP only to be denied and turned away by strong defensive play of Delta.

Killing off Grandview’s PP seemed to motivate the Ice Hawks, but given the strong and challenging play of MacInnes, Delta was kept off the scoreboard.

Play was again becoming “chippy” mostly due to calls behind the play that were either not seen/missed or not called in order to “let-em” play?

This mindset was taken out of the rule book by Hockey Canada some time ago with the understanding of “Make the Call” more of the “norm”, more so than the previous style of officiating.

It wasn’t long until play (again) became chippy near the boards on the penalty box side inside the blue line.

Delta’s Sam Kozlowski skated to the boards and delivered a Cross Check forcing Referee Ryan O’Keeffe to “make the call” – again putting Delta one player down.

Naturally a scrum ensued with a gathering of sorts, not only on the ice, but also in the stands with Delta Police on hand to quickly and promptly escort this “so-called” hockey fan out of the rink.

The second ended with “tension on the ice and in the stands with lots of “chirping” setting up an entertaining, yet possibly chippy third period.

Grandview jumped out to an early 4-0 lead two minutes in as Prevost was sent in from Holland and Chipman putting the game virtually out of reach for Delta.

Baring a miracle, one could sense this was out of reach for Delta and it wasn’t until 7:52 that the game took a turn for the worse.

Delta managed to be assessed 12 penalties while the Steelers were dealt 7 all for various reasons and infractions from High Sticking to Game Misconducts.

Some type of normal play resumed, if you can call it that, but more infractions were handed out with the first dealt to Dhaliwal for Boarding (10:01) followed by Wilson and Zenone for Misconducts (12:56) only to be followed by surprisingly the last one of the game to Santucci at 17:31 for Charging.

When the play finally resumed A/P Isaac Embree grabbed a lose puck and went end to end hammering one past a some-what shocked MacInnes making it a 4-1 contest.

Still out of reach for Delta, the showed tenacity by continuing to pressure the Steelers only to be denied by MacInnes.

The third saw Latrace face 10 while MacInnes stop 9 directed his way and through three Latrace faced 36 seeing Delta sending 32 in the direction of MacInnes.

The end result saw Delta play 8 more games than some hockey “buffs” expected as with this being game six, it was realistically 8 more than many expected them to play.

Game Stars:

1^st        Jake Holland              (Steelers 1 Goal – 1 Assist)

2^nd       Ian Prevost                 (Steelers 1 Goal – 1 Assist)

3^rd        Timothy Chow            (Steelers 1 Goal)

Game Notes:

Delta’s season has by far been a roller coaster ride given the change of ownership, utilizing three Coaches as well as the number of the player moves either in or out.

Along with ownership Wes and Penny Mussio, Delta General Manager Peter Zerbinos have a core group of young players that will make Delta proud and a place that players want to come to play.

Thank to the many fans that continue not only attend each home game, but also for supporting for the team this past season!!

Delta TV “thanks” everyone for the kind words and the continued support throughout the season.

We look forward to the PJHL 2016-17 season of Delta Ice Hawks hockey – ONLY on Delta TV.