A stirring comeback for the North Van Wolf Pack fell just short Saturday night in PJHL playoff action against the Delta Ice Hawks and now the Pack will need to scratch even harder if they are to advance past the first round.
The Wolf Pack fell behind 5-2 in the second period Saturday at Harry Jerome recreation centre in game three of their seven-game series but rallied to score three unanswered goals to tie it up. The comeback was spearheaded by Mitchell Crisanti and Marcus Houck who each either scored or assisted on all three goals to make it 5-5. North Vancouver pressed the issue in the dying minutes of the third but could not get the go-ahead goal and the game went into overtime. The teams traded several chances in the extra frame but it was Delta's Mark Trotman who finally found the back of the net seven minutes in, beating North Van goalie Braden Krogfoss with a wrist shot through a crowd on a quick counterattack for the Ice Hawks. Krogfoss entered the game midway through the second period, replacing Anders Ten Vaanholt who gave up four goals on 21 shots.
Houck ended the night with four points while the Ice Hawks were paced by Mak Barden who matched Houck's output with a goal and three assists to earn first star honours for the game. Delta's Colton Kroeker also racked up four points with two goals and two assists.
North Van drew first blood in the series Feb. 18 at Ladner Leisure Centre with Quinton Vitek scoring in overtime to clinch a 4-3 win. Game 2 was Friday night at Harry Jerome and the Ice Hawks screeched to a 4-1 win despite the Wolf Pack holding a 34-27 edge in shots. Kroeker was the star again with a hat trick and an assist.
The series shifted back to Delta for game 4 Tuesday after North Shore News deadline. The Wolf Pack, formed in Squamish in 2008 and playing out of North Vancouver since the 2011-12 season, are attempting to score their first playoff series win in franchise history. They finished second in the PJHL's Tom Shaw Conference this year, five points ahead of the Ice Hawks.
Game 5 will be at Harry Jerome Saturday night starting at 7 p.m. Game 7, if necessary, will be 8:30 p.m. Monday in North Van.
