Some much needed offensive help arrived under the Christmas tree for the Delta Ice Hawks.
After dropping their fourth consecutive game to the Aldergrove Kodiaks and slipping to third place in the Tom Shaw Conference standings, the Hawks have welcomed back 2012-13 PIJHL scoring champion Mak Barden. The 20-year-old from Surrey asked for his release from the BCHL's Port Alberni Bulldogs and will spend the remainder of his final season of junior eligibility in Delta's colours.
Barden's return comes on the heels of leading scorer Marc Letourneau telling them club recently he was heading to Ontario to attend school. Delta does not have a player on point a game pace or better in its line-up.
"This is absolutely huge for us, said Ice Hawks general manager Peter Zerbinos. "We're expecting Mak to step in and pick up right where he left off. This is where he wants to be and we're excited to have him back."
Barden was fifth in Bulldogs scoring with 20 points in 33 games, including eight goals. Last year with Delta, he managed 72 points in 46 games.
He will make his debut Saturday night (7:45 p.m.) when the Hawks host the Ridge Meadows Flames at the Ladner Leisure Centre. The locals are coming off a week break after falling 5-2 to league-leading Aldergrove.
Delta surrendered three goals in the opening period and played catch-up the rest of the night which is trouble for an offensivelychallenged team.
"We need to do the simple things and that's skate, put pucks to the net and stay out of the penalty box. We haven't been able to do that yet against them," said assistant coach Shane Kuss who watched his team slip to 2-4 in December. "Our execution hasn't been very good lately. It's probably good to get a break here to re-focus and regroup.
Hopefully a fresh start is what we need right now.
"We need the energy and intensity to win games and it hasn't been there of late."
Brent Chreptyk and Tanner Gattinger had the goals in a losing cause.
