Ice Hawks stay alive in tunnel series
The Delta Ice Hawks eked out a win on the road Thursday night to stave off elimination from the Pacific Junior Hockey League's Tom Shaw Conference finals. The Ice Hawks topped the Richmond Sockeyes 5-4 at Minoru Arenas to bring their tally in the best-of-seven series to two wins to three.
The Ice Hawks opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal late in the first period from the stick of David Rudin.
Mitchell Walter scored unassisted early in the second period to put the visitors up 2-0, before the home team answered back with a pair of goals of their own.
Both teams traded goals late in the middle frame to head to the third tied 3-3.
A nasty check by Sockeyes forward Bret Higham resulted in the six-foot-three bruiser getting a five-minute major for checking from behind and game misconduct.
The Ice Hawks made the most of the five-minute powerplay, with Anthony Brito and Kolten Grieve both scoring in a span of 30 seconds.
The Sockeyes pushed hard to equalize, with Jake Roder scoring to draw within one. Richmond pulled goalie Kootenay Alder in the final minute for the extra attacker, but Ice Hawks keeper Alexander Ahnert was able to keep the puck out of the net and keep Delta alive in the playoff series.
Brito was named the game's first star for his two-goal effort, while Aaron Merrick was named third star, scoring a pair of assists. Spencer Schoen tallied three assists, while Marc Letourneau, Tanner Gattinger, and Alex Martin each notched a helper of their own.
Game 6 of the Tom Shaw Conference finals returns to the Ladner Leisure Centre on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. If the Ice Hawks win and force a Game 7, the final game of the series will be played at Minoru Arenas in Richmond on Monday, March 18.
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