Delta Hockey Academy’s Green team thrived on home ice last weekend — rolling to a perfect record at the inaugural Canadian Sport School Hockey League/Western Hockey League Bantam Prep Showcase at Planet Ice.
The three-day event featured eight teams — all from the CSSHL.
The DHA Greens opened the event with a 5-1 victory on Friday over Notre Dame. The hosts limited the Saskatchewan school to just 10 shots while scoring four unanswered goals to break a 1-1 second period deadlock.
It was then a pair of wins on Saturday as Delta outlasted the OHA Edmonton 7-6 in a shootout and rolled past Northern Alberta 5-1.
Surrey’s Holden Cardinal scored the shootout winner, while Abbotsford’s Cole Savage turned back two of Edmonton’s attempts, making 28 saves in a relief role.
Delta scored three unanswered goals to tie the game, including Richmond’s Sammy May with 1:51 remaining.
Savage turned aside 31 shots in the win over Northern Alberta.
The Greens then capped their weekend with a dominating 8-1 triumph over the Edge on Sunday morning. Kai Daniells led the way against the Calgary school with two goals and one assist. Matt Smith (Edmonton) and Quinn Messer (North Delta) added a goal and two assists each.
DHA’s White team finished the showcase with a 2-2 record.
After falling 6-2 to OHA Edmonton on Friday, Delta slipped past Notre Dame 4-3 in a shootout. North Delta’s Mark Thurston scored the game winner, while goaltender Nathan Kirkpatrick (Surrey) turned aside all three Notre Dame attempts. Mateo Mrsic (Surrey) scored twice in regulation.
A 6-4 win over the Edge on Saturday afternoon was highlighted by a pair of goals from Kamloops native Mathew Ward.
Delta then closed out the Showcase with a 6-5 loss in overtime to Northern Alberta. Thurston had a pair of goals and three points. Cloverdale’s Roan Clarke made 31 saves.
The DHA teams are now idle from CSSHL play until January. They both are headed to Burnaby to compete in the Bantam AAA Elite Division at the Pat Quinn Classic — Dec. 27-30.
The competition will include Dallas Stars Elite, Arizona Bobcats, San Jose Jr. Sharks, Rocky Mountain Roughriders and the current No. 1 ranked Bantam minor hockey association team in B.C. — Seafair Islanders.
DHA Greens are the defending Bantam Elite champions.
