Left to right: Irena Shklover, Evelina Sadovska, Natalia Synelnyk, Halyna Tymchuk and Mila Synysta help the Whalers raise funds for Ukrainian 🇺🇦 relief on March 12. | Photo courtesy of Alistair Burns, White Rock Whalers.
Pod leads series 3-1
CENTENNIAL ARENA – Winger Jayson Beauregard has cemented his role as White Rock’s magic man. The veteran clutch scorer delivered an impressive solo effort in sudden-death on March 12.
Whaler Jayson Beauregard in warm-up. The winger has scored seven play-off goals for the Pod. | Photo courtesy of Alistair Burns, White Rock Whalers.
Beauregard – who leads the Whalers with seven playoff goals – gathered speed at the White Rock blue line. On a rare overtime powerplay, he swiftly skated wide of the Delta defenders and snapped the puck past Ice Hawk goalie Braedy Euerby.
“When I got the puck, I wanted to score and I just made it happen,” Beauregard said.
White Rock head coach Jason Rogers appreciated Beauregard’s “slippery” on-ice finesse. “He’ll score from outside the hash (marks); he’ll score from down low or find a way to get to the net and bang one home.”
This result means that the Whalers now lead the Tom Shaw Conference Final three games to one. The fifth game is scheduled for Mar. 13 in Ladner.
However, the fourth game provided more than Beauregard’s brilliance. It was a topsy-turvy affair that tested the Centennial faithful’s resolve. The Whalers took four minor penalties in a row.
“We had a conversation about penalties – I would consider – three dumb penalties. We need to be better than that, more disciplined,” said White Rock head coach Jason Rogers.
During long stretches of play, the Ice Hawks were able to return to their high-flying ways with three powerplay markers; Carson Merriman scored twice on the man advantage.
Charlie Black, the P.A. announcer for the Surrey Eagles, sang the national anthem before the Whalers defeated the Delta Ice Hawks 4-3 (OT).
‘Forty’ gets fifth
Three minutes into the first period, Whaler Zac Sherwin broke free for a shorthanded breakaway but the puck rolled off his stick; a minute later, teammate Chris Fortems skated past a poor Delta line change for his own break. But his wrist shot was poked to the corner by Euerby’s blocker.
Fortems redeemed himself with 14 seconds left in the opening frame as his shot from the slot gave the Whalers the lead.
Rogers called the opening 20 minutes a “track meet. We don’t want to play that kind of hockey.”
In the second, after Carson Merriman converted a feed from his brother Conner, Whaler Jacob Dorohoy made a power move and ripped a shot over Euebry’s glove.
“The mood was up and down but our team kept focused throughout the whole game. We believed in one another,” Dorohoy said.
Whaler Jayson Beauregard puts a rebound in during an away game. | Photo courtesy of Alistair Burns, White Rock Whalers.
The Ice Hawks had a goal waved off as Whaler goalie Keegan Maddocks was bumped in the crease. Maddocks faced 34 shots for his sixth playoff win for the Pod.
The third period saw more drama as Carson Merriman put Delta ahead 3-2 before Whaler Zac Sherwin followed up on his own rebound to tie the game at 3-3 for overtime.
Round Two | Game 4 | Post-Game with Coach Rogers
Round Two | Game 4 | Interview with Jacob Dorohoy
Ukraine relief
During game four, the Whalers raised $882.50 for charity – specifically for the relief efforts in Ukraine.
We thank the parishioners of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Ukrainian Catholic church in Surrey, and the Maple Hope foundation, for their assistance.
🇺🇦 Natalia Pochtar (left) and Oksana Khomyak volunteered for the Pod's Ukrainian fundraiser which brought in a total of $882.50 on March 12.
🇺🇦 Irena Shklover (left), Natalia Synelnyk, Evelina Sadovska, Mila Synytsa and Halyna Tymchuk fundraise for the Whalers Mar. 12.
