Coquitlam and Delta Looking for First Win

After falling by one goal to the Lakers on Sunday, Coquitlam came into their game with Delta on an even playing field. Delta too lost their first game of the season, falling to Victoria 5-2 at their home opener in Ladner. Both teams looking for a win to jump start their season and get some momentum flowing.

The first period started with a couple of penalties for both teams and in the four on four action, the A's got on the board first when Matt Beers set up his captain Matt Wilson who shot low across the crease. Kelly Kilpatrick took notice of Wilsons goal and five minutes later scored one of the same, stick side on Neil Barney.

Delta answered back to cut the lead in half, when Mitch Jones fed Jason Jones who waited for the screen before he beat Coquitlams weapon of a goalie Joel Weber from back east.

Before the period ended Coquitlam would score two more. Jordan Weir had his first of the season and Michael Krgovich threw in a power play marker with just thirty seconds to go.

Scott Defrancesco opened the second by snagging the ball from Delta keeper Neil Barney, waiting for his support to come off the bench and passing it to Kilpatrick who made it count. The best goal of the evening came halfway through the second when Neil Barney was trying to settle a ball in his crease, and in the scramble the ball just trickled out right into the path of Matt Beers who batted the ball five hole on Barney.

Delta would change goalies after Beers' goal, with intermediate backup Jeff Nikula relieving Barney. Robbie Campbell played tic-tac-toe with Jason Jones for Deltas second goal of the game, and Campbell scored again with time winding down, this time an impressive short handed goal on the rush.

Sean Robinson and Creighton Reid scored for Coquitlam with time winding down, and the second period would end with the home team up 8-3.

With the shot clock winding down about five minutes into the third, Scott Defrancesco got his own rebound and shot it off Nikula's back for a power play goal. Delta's Logan Schuss managed to get the ball past Joel Weber, Weber making the original stop but the ball just trickled through his legs and into the net.

Scott Rouse from Coquitlam and Robbie Campbell from Delta were mouthing each other off for the majority of the third and were each thrown in the box for slashing with seven minutes to go. While in the box, these gentlemen decided amongst themselves that upon their return to the floor they would promptly fight, and fight they did.

The refs immediately came over and separated them before the anything happened, but after the encouragement of the crowd and players on the bench, let them at it. Lots of dancing to start, but once the punches started there were a few good ones landed. The fight was drawn out and towards the end you could tell they just wanted it to end so I'm calling a draw.

After the penalties were being decided upon there was more rough stuff, Matt Wilson paired up with Jamal Allen (a call-up for Delta who looked like he would be a great fight), and Matt Beers with John Canil- the refs stopped those before anything could be done about it.

To wrap up the period Coquitlam would get on the board twice more. Jordan Weir had his second of the night on the power play, and Defrancesco walked while the Delta defence watched and threw in the last goal of the game with a minute and a half to go.

There were 106 shots on goal between these two teams (51 for Delta and 55 for Coquitlam) so there was no shortage of chances, but in the end it came down to the solid goaltending in the A's end.

Final score from Coquitlam Sports Centre was 12-4 for the home team. Delta did a good job to make sure to throw balls at Joel Weber but he was an absolute wall. Not only does he cover every inch of his net at every angle; he's a great stick handler too, getting an assist on the A's tenth goal from Chase Dunlop. Weber is definitely going to be the player to crack for teams that face Coquitlam this season, and from the action I've seen so far it's going to be no easy task.

Next game for both teams is against South Fraser. Coquitlam plays them Thursday night at the North Surrey Rec Center at 8pm, and Delta hosts SF this Saturday in Ladner.