The Tunnel Cup series is now down to a best-of-three affair when the Richmond Sockeyes and Delta Ice Hawks meet again in late October.
The Pacific Junior Hockey League rivals skated to a 2-2 tie on Thursday night at Minoru Arenas in a somewhat wild affair that featured buckets of scoring chances, penalties and early season hiccups.
Hawks GM and head coach Steve Robinson sensed his team would come out with plenty to prove with eight players in the line-up from last spring’s Cyclone Taylor Cup gold medal game loss to the Sockeyes on the very same ice. They were reminded again when the championship banner was raised to the rafters in a pre-game ceremony.
Meanwhile, Richmond dressed a rookie-loaded line-up making their junior debuts with just three returning players.
It looked like somewhat of an early season mismatch on paper, especially with the Hawks playing their fourth meaningful game in six nights, including a pair of tough pre-season tilts against Vancouver Island champion Campbell River Storm and a 5-3 home opener win against North Van on Tuesday.
Yet it was the Sockeyes overcoming a slow start for a 2-0 lead before the Ice Hawks answered with a pair of their own in the second.
Somehow, there was no more scoring despite some great chances at both ends, including 4-on-4 and 3-on-3 in 10 minutes of overtime hockey.
“All those guys had their perfect season ruined here so you think you wouldn’t have to light the fire too much,” said Robinson. “At some level, the guys just thought it was going to be an easy touch. We started the game with a power play and the next five minutes felt like one too. But when you are not getting a goal the guys started pressing and the game then got funky. Nobody was passing and there were some bad habits we got into.
“I’ve seen enough games over the years where it goes sideways and, honestly, this feels like a loss. They have some good skilled guys over there but they are a youngish team with a lot of guys making their auditions. You think you would see the difference in our composure but it didn’t materialize tonight.”
The Sockeyes dodged some early bullets thanks to the play of goaltender Jeremy Kelleway then got a pair of power goals from former Greater Vancouver Canadians standout Marcus Pantazis. They were on their heels for a good portion of the second period but there was still plenty to be pleased about for head coach Brett Reusch given the inexperience of his line-up.
“They might have thought the game was won after the first period but that’s where our immaturity shows. You have to play 60 minutes in this league to be successful and win,” he said. “We are going to have some growing pains to begin with. But I’m very pleased with the outcome. The future is bright here.”
Mark Epshtein and Jordan Deyrmenjian had the Delta goals. Jordy Engelson and Kelleway each made 31 saves.
The Sockeyes return to action Saturday as opponents for the expansion White Rock Whalers’ first-ever game. The Ice Hawks continue a tough stretch to start the season when Abbotsford visits Ladner on Tuesday night.
