Any hope the North Delta Devils may have had of moving up the Pacific International Junior Hockey League standings before the season is gone.
The Devils lost twice last week, falling nine points back of the second place Delta Ice Hawks with just six games to play. North Delta lost 8-5 on the road Wednesday night to the Aldergrove Kodiaks, then fell 5-2 at home Saturday night at the Sungod Arena to the Grandview Steelers.
Although outplayed in the first period, the Steelers led 1-0 after 20 minutes Saturday on a powerplay goal from Justin Elliott, and upped the lead to 4-0 late in the second frame. Eben Norman got North Delta on the scored in the last minute of the second, then set up Stefan Burzan for a goal midway through the third.
An empty net goal by the Steelers closed out the scoring.
The Devils generated enough offence Wednesday in Aldergrove, scoring five times on 53 shots against Kodiaks’ netminder Ross Baadsvik. But two Devils’ goalies were tagged for seven goals against on 36 Aldergrove shots.
Affiliate player Levi De Waal paced North Delta with a goal and three assists. Blake Gorrill, Tanner Lenting, Matthew Tilton and Jacob Wensley also scored for the Devils.
Regular season play continues Saturday, with the Devils taking on the Richmond Sockeyes at 1:30 p.m. at the Richmond Olympic Oval, a game which will be part of CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada promotion.