The North Vancouver Wolf Pack present enough challenges never mind trying to deal with the top team in the Pacific Junior Hockey League with a shorthanded line-up.
That’s what the Delta Ice Hawks were up against in Saturday’s 4-2 loss in North Vancouver (25-5-0-0). The result opened up a 10-point gap between the league’s two frontrunners and was Delta’s first regulation loss since Oct. 28 — a span of 10 games.
The Hawks (18-6-2-2) entered the pivotal tilt without veteran blueliners Liam Visram and Nick Marsh.
Visram was called-up by the B.C. Hockey League's Nanaimo Clippers for their three-game weekend road trip while Marsh was injured in last week’s 4-0 win over Mission and could be sidelined for up to four weeks.
They were also without the services of team captain and leading scorer Jordan Deyrmenjian who is in New York on a family trip.
The Wolf Pack blitzed Delta in the opening 20 minutes, outshooting the visitors 18-4 and taking a 1-0 lead.
The Hawks responded with a better second period and tied the game on rookie blueliner Ryan Bayley’s first goal of the season.
The teams were tied at 2-2, thanks to Mark Epshtein’s third period shorthanded effort, but the Wolf Pack scored two goals less than three minutes apart to seal the win.
Goaltender Jordy Engelson was terrific in a losing cause with 39 saves.
“Between (Jonathan) Rees and (Nathan) Pelletier leaving, along with injuries and call-ups, it’s been a little challenging,” said Hawks GM and head coach Steve Robinson. “But Saturday was our first loss in over a month and we garnered points in 11 of our last 12 games.
“I think we’re growing as a team that can find ways to win and grind things out at a time. It is very different from being the most talented team by a mile last year.”
Robinson admits first place is likely out of reach for his club with no games against North Vancouver remaining. However, his club is in an excellent position to battle Richmond and Abbotsford for second overall and home ice advantage for the opening two rounds of the playoffs.
The Hawks return to action Tuesday when Langley visits at 7:35 p.m.
