Whalers Aiden McGregor-Bennett honoured for his 100th career PJHL game.

By Ethan Van Dop

WHITE ROCK, BC.

The White Rock Whalers welcomed the Delta Ice Hawks to the pond for an evening matchup which featured a pregame ceremony for Whalers forward Aiden McGregor-Bennett, who played in his 100th career PJHL game. This matchup marked the first time the two teams have faced off this season. The game held big stakes for both teams, as Delta came into the game with a five-point lead over the Whalers in the Tom Shaw conference standings.

The first period saw Delta outshoot White Rock 20-13, but it was the Whalers who opened the scoring at 11:51 of the first period thanks to a Jonah Ussher 5 on 3 powerplay marker after back-to-back penalties by Delta. Whalers goalkeeper Garin Wickstrom was a key part in the Whalers having the lead after one, as he saved all twenty of the shots he faced, including a shorthanded breakaway chance by the Ice Hawks.

Both teams exchanged chances in a high intensity back-and-forth second period. The Whalers penalty kill looked sharp as they killed off two straight Delta power plays but ultimately Delta was able to break through at 5 on 5 as Miller Bruckshaw scored the equaliser late in the second period for the Ice Hawks bringing us to a 1-1 tie heading into the final period.

The final frame was highly contested as each team exchanged a number of dangerous chances. Both goalies had to make key saves to keep their teams in it until Delta found the back of the net for their second of the game with just over 10 minutes left in the second.

Whalers forward Justin Osborne then had an excellent opportunity to tie the game for White Rock but was denied on the breakaway.

Delta Ice Hawks forward Lukas Jakubec was taken to the hospital following a collision into the boards in the third period. We wish him the absolute best in his recovery.

Delta scored their third and fourth goals of the game just over a minute apart late in the third as the Ice Hawks defeated the Whalers 4-1.