The Richmond Sockeyes turned the table on the Delta Ice Hawks to take control of the latest installment of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League's Tunnel Series.
The Ice Hawks opened the best-of-seven Tom Shaw Conference final with a 4-0 win in Ladner then jumped out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes in game two last Thursday at Minoru Arena. That's when the series momentum swung.
Richmond stormed back with three unanswered goals for a 3-2 victory then rode the shutout goaltending of Kootenay Alder for a 2-0 game three win on Sunday.
Dean Allison's first period power play goal gave the hosts a 1-0 first period lead. It stayed that way until Jeremy Hamaguchi added another extra man tally with eight minutes remaining.
The Hawks went 0-for-4 on the power play and didn't produce a quality scoring chance in the final period thanks to the Sockeyes smothering defensive zone coverage, led by blueline workhorses Scott Wessa and Dominic Centis.
Delta took a 104 minute scoreless stretch into game four last night.
The return to Minoru Arena on Thursday (7: 30 p.m.) for game five.
Icing... Goals from Jake Roder and Daniel Tait just 20 seconds apart in the third period provided the difference in game two. Dean Allison had the other Richmond goal.
Ice Hawks Anthony Brito missed both games in Richmond with an undisclosed injury that likely occurred on a open ice hit from Centis in the series opener
The veteran centre, who was third in PIJHL scoring this season, took the pre-game skate for game three but was scratched.
