Tonight, the North Vancouver Wolf Pack play their second of three home games in December when the Delta Ice Hawks and the teddy bears come to visit the Harry Jerome Arena. The Wolf Pack aim for their 23rd victory of the season while Delta hopes to get back in the win column and get their 19th win in tonight’s Teddy Bear Toss game.
Delta Ice Hawks
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Steve Robinson
Record: 18-6-1-1
Road Record: 10-3-0-0
Last Game: A 4-2 loss in Richmond on Thursday.
Goals For/Goals Against: 130 GF/94 GA (+36)
Power Play: 30/112 (26.79%)
Penalty Kill: 34/101 (64.34%)
Leading Scorers: Dalton MacGillivray (23GP – 21G – 29A – 50PTS), Alec Scouras (25GP – 16G – 31A – 47PTS), Carson Hemenway (19GP – 14G – 16A – 30PTS)
Busy like the Elves
This week, the Delta Ice Hawks have been just as busy as Santa’s elves as the team has played two additional games since last playing North Vancouver. Delta hosted Grandview on Tuesday and beat them 8-2 and they then traveled to Richmond on Thursday and were defeated 4-2. Despite a week full of games, the Ice Hawks will be ready to go in what should be a rather spirited contest.
Strength in Net
On paper, the Ice Hawks have excellent depth in net with 19-year-old Euerby, 18-year-old Justin Wagner, and 17-year-old Merik Erickson. When Wagner returns from an injury, the plan is to rotate all three to see which goaltender will take the No. 1 job heading into February’s playoffs.
It was Euerby who was between the pipes in Delta’s 3-2 overtime victory against the Wolf Pack last week so expect him to be back there tonight too.
NORTH VANCOUVER WOLF PACK
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Matt Samson
Record: 22-5-1-1
Home Record: 10-2-1-1
Last Game: A 3-1 road victory against the Grandview Steelers on Sunday, December 5.
Goals For/Goals Against: 118 GF/68 GA (+50)
Power Play: 26/117 (22.22%)
Penalty Kill: 12/106 (88.68%)
Leading Scorers: David Coyle (28GP – 18G – 23A – 41PTS), JJ Pickell (29GP – 23G – 17A – 40PTS), Ryan Hunter (29GP – 8G – 25A – 33PTS)
Teddy Bear Time!
The North Vancouver Wolf Pack is partnering with Family Services of the North Shore to present Teddy Bear Toss night. This is the 2nd ever Teddy Bear Toss game that the Wolf Pack will be hosting. Fans are encouraged to bring teddy bears to the game and when the Wolf Pack score their first goal of the game, fans can throw the stuffed animals onto the ice. We’ll collect the stuffies so that the teddy bears can then be donated to the North Shore Christmas Bureau where they will be gifted to families and children to ensure that every child in our community has a smile on their face come Christmas Day.
Johnny Wong
Former Wolf Pack defenceman and alternate captain, Lucas Wong, was crowned the 2019 Teddy Bear Toss hero when he scored against the White Rock Whalers and now another Wong has the opportunity to do the same. Current defenceman and alternate captain, Jonathan Wong, has nine assists in the twenty one games that he has played this season and although he does not have a goal so far this season it would be very special if he were to score this year’s Teddy Bear goal.
Final Words
Tonight is the fourth of six meetings between North Vancouver and Delta. The Pack have won two games already as they beat Delta 6-1 on September 21 and 5-4 in overtime back on the 24th of November. After tonight, the Pack conclude their December home schedule by hosting the Port Moody Panthers tomorrow night.
