Ice Hawks nip Pod, 5-4

Whaler Cole ‘Big Goal’ Svendson nets hat trick

CENTENNIAL ARENA – Down 4-0 and with ace netminder Daniel Zuvic chased to the bench, the Whalers could have thrown in the towel against the Delta Ice Hawks.

Instead, the Pod mounted a furious comeback that fell a mere goal post short in a 5-4 loss Nov. 13.

“It was a team effort. We have to be happy with how we responded after being down,” said Whalers captain Tyler Price

White Rock’s Cole Svendson, 19, led the charge with a hat trick. He regained his “Big Goal” nickname, first bestowed during his rookie season.

Hawks soar in 1st

Seven minutes in, veteran Whaler centreman Jacob Dorohoy set the tone when he bravely went to one knee and blocked a hard slap shot. He grimaced and gritted out the rest of his shift.

Head coach Jason Rogers appreciated Dorohoy’s willingness to “pay the price.”

However, the Ice Hawks were able to consistently ring the puck around the offensive zone. Delta’s Kyle Kalamaras scored on a tap-in at the side of the crease.

His teammates continued to fire rubber at White Rock’s Zuvic. Both Carson Hemenway, via a hard one-timer, and Dalton MacGillivray struck on the power play.

‘We don’t give up’: Spak

After the fourth goal, White Rock head coach Jason Rogers pulled Zuvic, who had faced 20 shots, and put in backup goalie Kyle Spak. He allowed one goal on 20 shots.

“We’re here to support each other,” the 17-year-old Spak said of his “great mentor” Zuvic, a veteran.

With 30 seconds left in the second period, Svendson stepped up. The six-foot-three forward outmuscled the opposition to a loose puck. He circled and fired a shot past Delta goalie Merik Erickson.

“We don’t give up,” Spak pointed out. “We’re all in this together and it was great [for Svendson] to get one” for momentum.

‘Hungry’ for fire-wagon hockey

In the third, Whaler defenceman Bryce Margetson alertly flipped the puck to centre ice and Svendson streaked in on a breakaway. His masterful backhand deke cut the Delta lead to 4-2.

That big goal – by “Big Goal” – woke the Pod up. Captain Tyler Price’s point shot snuck through a screen on the man advantage for his first of the season.

After Delta’s Alex Lucchesi restored a two-goal lead at 5-3, Svendson kept the Centennial faithful on their feet when he lit the lamp with 1:45 left for a hat trick.

Rogers said Svendson did a “heck of a job. He’s hungry and going to the net.”

The loss meant that White Rock regained a .500 record – 10 wins, 10 losses, and one overtime loss – for a total of 21 points and remained fourth in the six-team Tom Shaw Conference.

“Tough loss all around but lots of positives to build on,” Spak concluded.