The Delta Ice Hawks wound up on the Pacific International Junior Hockey League's naughty list for Christmas following a line brawl incident in Abbotsford last Friday that left seven players suspended.
The Hawks were having one of their worst games of the season, trailing 7-1 midway through the final period, when a scene right out of the movie Slapshot unfolded.
Anthony Brito tried to engage a fight and was accessed a major penalty. While he was being escorted off to the dressing room, the remaining players on the ice dropped their gloves, including Delta goaltender Scott Lapp who skated over centre to challenge Pilots' stopper Aaron Oakley.
"A linesman had grabbed one of our guys and pulled him away so that resulted in one of our players in a three-on-one situation," said Ice Hawks general manager Peter Zerbinos.
"That sent Brent (Chreptyk) off the bench to help and Grange (Gordon) jumped over to get involved too."
When the officials finally regained control, 12 game misconducts were handed out, including seven to the Ice Hawks. Defenceman Ryan Mana was given a match penalty after he got involved with several Pilot players.
B.C. Amateur Hockey Association oversee match penalties and handed the 20-yearold a nine-game suspension.
Meanwhile, Chreptyk received six from the PIJHL for being the first off the bench. Gordon and Lapp were given three each; David Rudin and Jeremy Goosard each received two and Brito one.
"It was one of those games that was very heated and we didn't play very well," continued Zerbinos. "They were up 4-1 and then there was a big but clean hit on (16-year-old rookie) Matt Dawson. Our temperatures got even higher and I don't think the officials did enough to quell them.
"Obviously, it was something we don't condone and we our responsible for our players. We have talked to them about it."
The suspensions left Zerbinos scrambling for players with the Ice Hawks having three games this week.
Six affiliates dressed for Tuesday's home tilt against the Port Moody Panthers and the Hawks didn't miss a beat, blasting the league's worst team 12-2. Among the call-ups was South Delta Midget A1 player Mark Trotman and the 16-year-old made the most of the opportunity with two goals. Even Vancouver Thunderbirds' goalie Matt Kore got to see some action in the third period.
"Originally I thought we would need eight APs but it turned out (captain) Alex Martin was not suspended and we got Michael Olson-Eyre back from injury too.
"It's great to see a South Delta kid like Mark step into the line-up and get a couple of goals for us. All these guys come to our practices and know our systems and stuff. We get to see what they are all about and it motivates them when they go back to their minor hockey teams too."
The shorthanded Hawks also turned in a strong effort one night later in Aldergrove, falling 3-2 to the red hot Kodiaks. The hosts broke a 2-2 deadlock during a four minute power play in the third period for their seventh consecutive win. Olson-Eyre had tied the game earlier in the period, while Tanner Gattinger had the other goal.
The Ice Hawks play their final game before Christmas on Sunday afternoon at the Burnaby Winter Club against the Grandview Steelers.
