It was a hit that may have cost the Delta Ice Hawks one of their key forwards but also provided a much-needed walk-up call.
On the verge of losing their third straight game in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League championship series to the Abbotsford Pilots, Aaron Merrick was leveled near centre ice by Luke Venema near the midway mark of the third period.
The knee-on-knee hit drew a major penalty and had at least two or three Ice Hawks trying to confront Venema while their teammate laid sprawled on the ice in a considerable amount of pain.
Delta would eventually capitalized on the extended power play and proceeded to dominate the rest of the game like it had at no other time during the series. The Hawks outshot the Pilots 29-7 over the final 22 minutes of play and were eventually rewarded on Anthony Brito's overtime goal.
The 3-2 home ice victory gave the Ice Hawks a 3-2 series lead with game six scheduled for tonight at MSA Arena in Abbotsford. If needed game seven would take place Saturday at the Ladner Leisure Centre (7: 30 p.m.).
"It was kind of like poking a bear and it certainly had the same effect," said Delta head coach Dave McLellan of the hit on Merrick. "The series is starting to get some animosity and that's probably what we needed. You could see that penalty was going to draw a fight that's why we were trying to get our players over to the bench."
Up until the Merrick hit, the series was playing out just as the Pilots had hoped.
They dropped the opening two games of their semi-final encounter with Aldergrove only to win the next four.
The same pattern was unfolding in the finals as Delta took games one and two before the Pilots responded with back-to-back wins. They were less than 13 minutes away from another victory when the Hawks elevated their game to a level they needed in the previous round to take out the defending champion Richmond Sockeyes.
"Sports can be funny and it's hard to explain why we are even in this situation right now," said McLellan. "If we had found a way to win one of the last two this thing would be over now. We just didn't play with the urgency that is required but we really picked it up tonight.
"We told the guys after the game that we hope they understand what they are trying to accomplish. Winning a championship is never is easy and they will walk together for life if they win it. They have to approach these games like they are a lifetime investment. If they do that then we should win Friday."
The Ice Hawks are 60 minutes away from their third ever PIJHL championship despite a quiet series for some of their leading performers. Captain Cody Smith has yet to register a point in five games, while Cody Fidgett has been held off the scoresheet the past three games after a sensational opening two rounds.
John Proctor did breakout of his minislump with two huge goals, both coming on the power play.
"It would be much easier process if some of our guys contributed more," added McLellan. "But there are ebbs and flows in a series and (Fidgett and Smith) carried us through other the two (series). It goes like that. It would be nice to get lucky here the next game and get some guys off the snide."
