Photo credit: Melody Fast/Abbotsford Pilots
ABBOTSFORD – A fiery first period and a close effort from the visitors made for an exciting hockey game at MSA Arena. The Abbotsford Pilots came out with a win Friday night by a score of 4-3 over the visiting Delta Ice Hawks. Pilots netminder Brock Machholz stopped 39 shots for his second win in as many days. Ice Hawks rookie goalie Hunter Tarves was dealt his first loss of the season, putting aside 28 shots. Despite this, he remains one of the hottest goalies in the PJHL, sporting a 1.97 GAA at the conclusion the game.
 Photo credit: Melody Fast/Abbotsford Pilots
Photo credit: Melody Fast/Abbotsford Pilots

1st Period:

It took nearly an entire calendar year, but Pilots’ alternate captain Matthew Dyck finally scored a goal. A shot from the high slot at 4:25 gave Dyck his first of the season, and his first goal since December 8th, 2018. The Pilots continued to put pucks in the back of the net, captain Jared Pitkethly notched his 4th of the season at 14:12 after receiving a drop pass from Alex Beechey and firing it past Hunter Tarves. The Pilots added an additional goal with 13 seconds remaining, a frenzy in the Delta crease resulted in Austin Moar potting away his 5th goal of the year to make it a 3-0 Abbotsford lead.

Shots: 13-12 Abbotsford

 Photo credit: Melody Fast/Abbotsford Pilots
Photo credit: Melody Fast/Abbotsford Pilots

2nd Period:

The Ice Hawks came out of the intermission with a hop in their step and struck twice in the 2nd period. First at 2:38 when Brice Kemp connected with rookie Stephen Chen for his 4th of the season. Later on, an unassisted marker from Mitchell Lavoie at 10:41, his 7th, reduced the deficit to just one. Abbotsford was able to regain a multi-goal lead at 12:02 when Sean McCracken found Matthew Dyck in the high slot and for his second goal of the evening. The home team led 4-2 through 40 minutes.

Shots: 15-14 Delta

 Photo credit: Melody Fast/Abbotsford Pilots
Photo credit: Melody Fast/Abbotsford Pilots

3rd Period:

Delta would once again make good early on in a period with Brice Kemp finding net at 2:59 for his 10th of the year. Despite many efforts by the visitors throughout the duration of the final period, the 4-3 score would stand.

Shots: 15-5 Delta

Final Score: Abbotsford Pilots 4 – Delta Ice Hawks 3

Final Shots: 42-32 Delta Ice Hawks

Brock Machholz – 39/42 saves for Abbotsford, W (9-10-0)

Hunter Tarves – 28/32 saves for Delta, L (6-1-1)

Abbotsford Power Play: 0/2

Delta Power Play: 0/2

3 Stars:

1) Matthew Dyck (ABB – 2G)

2) Devon Wolfe (ABB – 1A)

3) Brock Machholz (ABB – W)

Next Pilots Game: Wednesday in Aldergrove against the Kodiaks at 7:15pm.