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Ice Hawks goalie the difference in thrilling win over Steelers

Delta scores with five seconds remaining to edge Grandview
hockey
Jordy Engelson earned first star honours with a 32-save performance in the Delta Ice Hawks 2-1 win at Grandview on Sunday night. The Hawks host Mission on Tuesday in their final game before the Christmas break.

The Delta Ice Hawks will need their best player to stand tall in the homestretch to lock down a Pacific Junior Hockey League playoff spot and on Sunday night he certainly delivered.

Jordy Engelson earned first star honours with a 32-save performance in the Hawks’ dramatic 2-1 road win over the Grandview Steelers. The result came on the heels of an 8-0 road victory against the Surrey Knights as Delta (14-12-3-2) now has a five-point lead for the cross-over playoff spot and are also just two points behind the fourth place White Rock Whalers.

It has been a frustrating campaign for the 19-year-old Engelson who is among the league leaders in save percentage (.930) and average (2.35) yet entered Sunday’s contest with a 4-11-2 record thanks mainly to a lack of goal support.

It could have been another tough night until defenceman Leo Lin broke a 1-1 deadlock with just five seconds remaining with his second goal of the season.

The teams had played nearly two periods of scoreless hockey after Brad Fortin had tied the game for Delta in the late stages of the first. It was the Hawks’ first goal in three games against Steelers’ standout stopper Calen Dolan who leads the PJHL with eight shutouts already. 

Marcus Pantazis, Truman Chiu and Kyle Robinson led the way against Surrey with two goals each. 

Delta plays its final game before the holiday break on Tuesday when Mission visits the Ladner Leisure Centre at 7:35 p.m.