Pod clips Hawks, 3-0

Whaler Daniel Zuvic records shut-out

CENTENNIAL ARENA – For 55 seconds, White Rock goalie Daniel Zuvic mustered his grit to stave off a two-man advantage for the Delta Ice Hawks.

Zuvic used his hot glove hand to stymie the opposition’s powerplay. He made 30 saves in a 3-0 victory for the Whalers Sept. 25. It was his first shut-out of the season and halted a two-game losing streak for the Pod.

Zuvic’s played “really, really well so far this season. So, I’m glad he finally gets rewarded with the shut-out,” said associate coach Julian Feijo.

At press time, White Rock – with a record of four wins and two losses – jumped up to tie the Richmond Sockeyes for top spot in the six-team Tom Shaw Conference.

In a game that had over 100 penalty minutes, the Whalers stuck to their successful formula so far this season: a speedy counterattack.

“Our pace and forecheck has helped us succeed in the first couple of games,” commented alternate captain Zac Sherwin.

You’ve been thunderstruck: Mathieson

Caleb Cruz notched his first as a Whaler – and the game-winning goal – two-and-a-half minutes in on the powerplay.

After a few shifts, teammate Ryden Mathieson upped the tempo when he laid out an Ice Hawk with a thunderous check at centre ice.

That event woke Delta up. In the middle frame, Whaler defenceman Josten Hu stretched and cleared the puck off the goal line in a frantic crease battle.

Sherwin & Fortems return scoresheet favours

Four minutes later, alternate captain Zac Sherwin put the Pod up 2-0 when he coolly snapped a feed from Chris Fortems past Delta goalie Dawson Chen.

After last season being cut short by the pandemic, Sherwin pointed out that the Whalers have a “new mindset that makes us a grittier team that is even hungrier for a lengthy playoff run.”

In the third period, Sherwin returned the favour. He set up Fortems for White Rock’s second powerplay goal a mere 23 seconds after play resumed.