The Aldergrove Kodiaks only need one more win to seal the 2017 Pacific Junior Hockey League championship, but have lost the last two to the Delta Ice Hawks.
A pair of games on Friday and Saturday night at Ladner and Aldergrove arenas saw the Hawks squeak through to stave off elimination with a 6-5 overtime win and a 3-2 win, respectively.
The teams face each other again on Tuesday at Ladner, and if needed, Wednesday at Aldergrove (after The Star’s March 30 press deadline; see website for game stories and photos).
Friday’s game was a nail-biter with Delta taking a 3-1 lead in the first period, and a goal each in the second period before Aldergrove came back in the third to take it into overtime. The Hawks scored the winner at 5:44 in overtime.
Scoring for Aldergrove were Jacob De Waal, Matt Oliver on a power play, Cameron Davitt, Eric Callegari and on the power play, Derian White.
Assists came from Davitt, Joshua Poitras, De Waal, White, Clayton Schroeder, Quinncy Leroux, and Elijah Vilio.
White was the game’s second star for his two point night.
Aldergrove outshot the Hawks 41-23 and had eight power plays to the Hawks’ three, but it was to be Delta’s win that night.
Saturday’s game was Delta’s second win in as many days as the Hawks took a 2-1 lead in the second period, capitalizing on their 11-7 shots on goal.
Aldergrove’s Clayton Schroeder opened the scoring in the first period, assisted by Davin Padgham, for a 1-0 lead. However, Delta scored two unanswered goals in the second period for a 2-1 lead.
The Hawks were up 3-1 in the third period before Schroeder closed the scoring for the night midway through the period, assisted by Eric Callegari and Quinncy Leroux.
The Kodiaks did outshoot the Hawks 27-20 overall that night, and Schroeder was the game’s second star for his two point night.
The final score of 3-2 for the Hawks means the teams will meet at least once more before the championship is settled.
