While it might be pre-season for teams in the PJHL the Delta Ice Hawks are playing in the luxury of Delta Sungod arena – at least for the first couple of games.
This all due to the problems at the Ladner Leisure Centre that forced a complete rebuild of the arena part of the complex, which in reality was truly needed.
The rink in Ladner was first built in 1977 and both Sungod and Ladner are beginning to show the age, but the wall that fell was a refit several years later.
So the Ice Hawks along with the Vancouver Giants are playing at Sungod and entertaining fans from the north end in Delta and playing out of a complex that seats 2004 seats, plus standing room which can accommodate an additional 500 plus fans.
The Ice Hawks have played four games not including this one and so far the record is one win and three losses allowing 21 goals against while scoring a mere 9 in the other net.
The first game at Sungod that will be broadcast by Delta TV will be September 9th and the face-off is set for 8 pm followed by the next two games on the 9th and the 16th being at Sungod.
At this point they should move back to home “turf” and the confines of the Ladner Leisure Centre or at least that is the premise at this time.
It should be noted as with other teams the teams in the PJHL are still setting the rosters as some of the players from last seasons roster are still at Junior A camps in various areas.
While the teams wish them well, this at present doesn’t help the current roster the team is trying to assemble for the season, but it’ll work out.
The Ice Hawks have about (from what I am told) nine or possibly ten returning players from last season on the roster and on this night Peter Zerbinos is still making possible roster changes.
The Panthers have only played two prior games scoring nine goals allowing six against, so it’s obvious that it’s preseason for the league.
One more that did happen in the off-season was the move or the North Delta Devils to Langley where they will now be playing out of the George Preston Arena on Thursday nights and called the Langley Knights.
Was this a good move or was it a move that helped them possibly work in achieving success as a possible farm team for the Langley Rivermen in the BCHL and only time will tell.
It’s a wait and see situation, but it’s too early to tell what the season will bring for any team in the PJHL.
Delta Ice Hawks games are on Tuesday night so plan on attending an upcoming game!!