SAINTS GRIND OUT A ONE‑GOAL WIN, FIND THEIR EDGE, AND HOLD OFF DELTA IN A NAIL‑BITER

by Dave Kidd

June 5, 2026

Some games start rough, steady themselves, and then turn into something a team can build a season on. Friday night in Port Coquitlam felt exactly like that—a slow burn that erupted into belief, swagger, and a hard‑earned 6–5 Saints victory over the Delta Islanders.

Delta wasted no time, scoring on their opening possession and adding two more before the first intermission. The Islanders controlled the pace, the floor, and the shot clock, outshooting the Saints 21–12 in a period that had the home crowd shifting uneasily in their seats.

But the Saints didn’t break. They absorbed. They waited.

And then the second period arrived.

Every comeback has a spark. For Port Coquitlam, it came 6:54 into the second, when the Saints finally solved Islander goalie Greyson Beggs. That goal didn’t just get them on the board—it cracked open the confidence they’d been searching for all night.

From there, the offence spread out beautifully. Four different forwards—Cole Cameron, Chase Hemmerling‑McLean, Lincoln Wall, and Elijah Terry—found the back of the net, each goal adding another layer of swagger.

Meanwhile, Ashton Brown was sensational. He stopped 13 of 14 shots in the frame, turning the tide with calm, positional goaltending that gave his teammates the freedom to push.

By the end of forty minutes, the Saints had dragged themselves back to 4–4, and the building felt like it had flipped on its axis.

The Saints carried their momentum straight into the third, striking twice to complete a four‑goal run stretching back to the second period. Hemmerling‑McLean capped off his night with a hat trick, the kind of performance that lifts a bench and rattles an opponent.

Delta answered with 5:27 left, tightening the score and tightening the nerves. But the Saints’ defence—structured, physical, and smart—held its ground.

Then came the final test: a penalty kill with just over a minute remaining. Port Coquitlam dug in, blocked lanes, and refused to give Delta a clean look. When the buzzer finally sounded, it felt like a win earned through grit as much as skill.

Standout Performers

  • Chase Hemmerling‑McLean — Hat trick, energy, and the emotional heartbeat of the comeback
  • Luke Neary — A force on the floor with 8 loose balls, extending possessions and disrupting Delta’s rhythm
  • Nolan Ross — Returned from injury and immediately made three caused turnovers

Turning Points

  • Breaking Beggs: The first Saints goal in the second period flipped the entire emotional tone of the game.
  • The Equalizer: The tying goal later in the frame restored the team’s swagger and set the stage for the third‑period push.

Port Coquitlam Saints 6 - Delta Islanders 5

A gritty, necessary win—one that showed character, resilience, and a team rediscovering its identity.

Join us for our next game Sunday, June 7, 2026 — 3:00 pm against the Victoria Shamrock, doors open at 2:00 pm at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre.

Team Stats – Season Leaders

  • Loose Balls: Josh Adey
  • Caused Turnovers: Nolan Ross
  • Turnovers: Josh Mills
  •  Blocked Shots: Levi Touhey