Blades beat Sharks 4-3 in OT

The Blenheim Blades ran their Provincial Junior Hockey League Stobbs Division winning streak to four games thanks to a 4-3 sudden-death overtime victory over the Wheatley Omstead Sharks Sunday night at the Blenheim Memorial Arena.

    The win gives the Blades eight points, and ties the club with the unbeaten Essex ’73s. The two teams are in second place, one point behind the Skars who have nine points, and have played six games to four each for Blenheim and Essex.

    The Mooretown Flags at fourth with six points.

    The Blades return to action at home Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Amherstburg Admirals come to town.

     Rookie forward Justin Ewald was the star of the game for Blenheim scoring three goals, including the winner just a minute and 46 seconds into the OT. Ewald also picked up an assist for a four-point night.

    It was the Chatham native’s second four-point game, and he now has 10 points on the season for second place in team scoring behind veteran Tate Bowden’s 12.

    Wheatley took a one goal lead three times, but the Blades battled back each time to eventually force the overtime.

    Shannon Olson opened the scoring for the Sharks with the game just 23 seconds old, and things stayed that way until 8:42 of the second period when Ewald scored on a powerplay.

    Craig Spence and Bowden assisted on the goal.

    Olson put his team up 2-1 with his second tally of the night at 14:38 of the middle 20 minutes.

     The third period was only 33 seconds old when Blenheim’s Darby Lemieux scored his third of the year to knot things at 2-2 with assists going to Ewald and Bowden,

     Braedon Caetano once again put Wheatley up by a goal at 4:43 of the final 30 minutes, with Ewald scoring again to even the count with a powerplay tally at 11:13 and force the OT.

    Bowden and Spence assisted on the goal.

    That set the stage for Ewald’s game winner, with Spence and Alex Webster assisting.

    BLADES BITS: Prior to the puck drop a minute of silence was held in memory of former Blades executive member Gavin Mifflin who passed away Thursday at the age of 49…The Blades outshot the Sharks 27-19…Jake Vancoillie was in net and picked up his second win…Wheatley took 10 minor penalties to Blenheim’s six…This Thursday’s game will be South Kent Minor Hockey Association Night with all players attending the wearing as SKMH sweater getting in for free…Ewald was named first star of the game, with Spence the second and Olsen the third…Attendance was 307…The ice time sponsor was CB Deliveries of Blenheim.