The Delta Ice Hawks are off to the Tom Shaw Conference finals after a convincing four game sweep of the North Vancouver Wolfpack.
After a 2-1 double overtime win in game one of the series on home ice Feb. 20, the Ice Hawks were never really pushed in the remaining three games winning 6-3 last Thursday (Feb. 22) and 9-3 Saturday in North Vancouver before clinching the series with a 6-0 win Sunday night at the Ladner Leisure Centre.
The Ice Hawks had a balanced scoring attack throughout the series.
In game one, goals came from Carson Merriman and Colin Jang who played the overtime hero.
It was Jang’s first game back in the line-up after being out with an injury since January.
Zach Shaughnessy made 25 saves in the win.
In game two, the Wolfpack lead 1-0 after the first, but that was one of the few bright spots for them in the series as Delta roared back to take a 5-1 lead midway through the third period.
Billy Johal, Ryden Mathieson, Austin Kofler, Michael Romeo, Declan Warburton and Baden Pazdzierski scored for Delta, while Shaughnessy was again, excellent between the pipes making 25 saves.
Game three saw a pair of goals from Warburton with singles from Jang, Romeo, Payton Hu, Mateo Sjoberg and Denylo Bereza. Shaughnessy was not too busy, but still solid stopping 18 of the 21 shots that came his way.
Sunday night saw Carson Merriman and Sjoberg each score a pair with singles from Mathieson and Conner Merriman.
Shaughnessy picked up his fourth win of the series making 34 saves in the shut-out.
Up next will likely be the regular season champion Richmond Sockeyes who hold a 3-0 series lead against the White Rock Whalers.
Game four is Monday night in Richmond.
The Sockeyes only lost once during the regular season finishing with a 45-1-0-2 record.
Ice Hawks head coach and general manager Steve Robinson knows it will be a tough series but feels his club will be up for the challenge.
“Happy to get it done. I thought we played better every game [against North Van], so that kind of progress is good to see,” he said. “Going into the playoffs rest is always a weapon, so to get done early and heal up is what you want.
“I know the guys will be excited to get Richmond. Obviously, they have had an unreal season, but I like the match-up. I don’t think we have played them with our strength since back in October, so I think it will be a real good series – a good challenge that I think we are up for.”
Tom Shaw Conference Finals Series
Game 1 - Monday, March 4 - 7:30 p.m. at Minoru Arena
Game 2 - Tuesday, March 5 - 7:30 p.m. at Ladner Leisure Centre
Game 3 - Thursday, March 7 - 7 p.m. at Minoru Arena
Game 4 - Sunday, March 10 - 7:45 p.m. at Ladner Leisure Centre
Game 5 - Thursday, March 14 - 7 p.m. at Minoru Arena (if necessary)
Game 6 - Sunday, March 17 - 7:45 p.m. at Ladner Leisure Centre (if necessary)
Game 7 - Monday, March 18 - 7:30 p.m. at Minoru Arena (if necessary)
