The Delta Ice Hawks will be looking for their first Cyclone Taylor Cup triumph in 18 years when they begin play on Thursday afternoon in Revelstoke.
Coming off a memorable game seven overtime win against the Ridge Meadows Flames to capture the Pacific Junior Hockey League championship, the Ice Hawks will take on Kootenay league champion Kimberley Dynamiters at 1 p.m. to open round-robin play.
Games on Friday (1 p.m.) against Vancouver Island League champion Oceanside Generals and Saturday (7 p.m.) against host Revelstoke Grizzlies will follow, with the top two teams meeting for gold at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
In 2018 and again in 2022 as the host team, Delta opened the tournament with two straight wins to secure a spot in the final, only to lose to league rivals Richmond and Langley respectively. They would love to follow the same script with a different ending.
Ice Hawks GM and head coach Steve Robinson can lean on the experience of 11 returning players from a year ago but also has a deeper roster to work with. That was evident through the PJHL playoffs with 15 players recording at least eight points during the 16-game run to the title.
“I think we arguably had a little bit more higher end talent on last year’s team but when you look at the plug and play aspect with just how deep I can go here, it’s this group,” said Robinson.
“I told the guys, the only way you can control your own destiny is win all four games. There is a plausible way to win three games and still win (the cup) but that also brings other things into the equation.”
Prior to the team’s Tuesday morning departure, Robinson put together an intense practice schedule at Tilbury Atena, with most on ice sessions being in the early afternoon since the Ice Hawks have a pair of 1 p.m. starts.
“We definitely wanted to keep the guys proactive against any kind of malaise or lag to make sure we stayed hungry and sharp,” he added. “The first day it probably took some time to get going which was understandable but the last four days have been great.”
Rookie netminder Zach Shaughnessy has fully recovered from a head injury and even saw some action last week in the B.C. Hockey League playoffs as a call-up with Coquitlam. The 17-year-old could get the start against Kimberley although Robinson is still unsure how he will handle the goaltending workload with veteran Merik Erickson getting all four wins in the final.
Icing...
-The club will be travelling with 37 to Revelstoke with the contingent including some long-time off-ice volunteers.
-Kimberley advanced with its own dramatic game seven overtime win on Monday night in Princeton, leaving the Dynamiters about 60 hours before they are facing the Ice Hawks in Revelstoke. Delta and the host Grizzlies are the two returning teams from a year ago.
-With a capacity of about 1,000, the Revelstoke Forum is expected to be sold out for all eight games.
