For much of the game, the North Delta Devils dominated Saturday night’s Pacific International Junior Hockey League game at the Sungod Arena.
But it wasn’t until there was less than three minutes to play when the Devils finally put away the Mission Icebreakers.
North Delta outshot their guests 46-22, but gave up two shorthanded goals before netting one themselves to tie the game late in the second period before Stephen Campbell notched the winner in a 5-4 victory.
The Devils took a one-goal lead three times in the first period, opening the scoring on a tally by Connor Beauchemin five minutes into the contest.
Mission’s first shorthanded goal tied the score two minutes later, but before the penalty was over, Tyler Lenting put the Devils back in front with the game’s only powerplay goal.
The Icebreakers drew even at 2-2 late in the opening period, but a goal from Jacob Wensley had the Devils ahead 3-2 after 20 minutes.
Mission took its only lead of the game by the midway point of the game. A shorthanded goal tied the score and chased North Delta starting netminder Alex Ahnert. Backup Harry Fredeman gave up a go-ahead goal 10 minutes into the second period, but stopped everything the rest of the way for the win.
North Delta improved to 2-1 (won-lost) just two weeks into the season. They have a busy week ahead of them, playing three times on the road in six days, starting with tonight’s (Tuesday) contest in Ladner against the 4-1 Delta Icebreakers.
The Devils are in Richmond Thursday night to play the Sockeyes, then face the Grandview Steelers at the Burnaby Winter Club Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m.