Both the Blenheim Blades and the Wallaceburg Thunderhawks were playing
their second game in less than 24 hours when the met in Provincial Junior
Hockey League Stobbs Division action Sunday night at the Blenheim Memorial
Arena.
So, the Blades thought is would be a good idea to score early and often, and by
5:32 of the first period they we up 3-0 enroute to a 6-2 victory before a season
high 415 fans.
The win gives the fifth-place Blades 20 points thanks to a 10-11-0-0 record,
and a three-point edge over the sixth-place Wheatley Sharks. The victory also
moved the Blades to within three points of the fourth-place Amherstburg
Admirals who have played 23 games to Blenheim’s 21.
The Blades will now see action just once more before the New Year as they
travel to Dresden Wednesday, Dec. 29 to tangle with the Kings at 7:30 p.m.
The next home game will be Sunday, Jan. 2 when the Essex ’73s come to town
for a 7 p.m. contest.
Jeff Carey’s first goal of the season got the Blades rolling at 1:08 of the first
period, with Connor Roth and Evan Minnie assisting on the play.
Just 52 seconds later Sam McKinlay gave the Blades a 2-0 edge thanks to his
second score of the year. It was unassisted.
It was 3-0 Blenheim at 5:32 thanks to Tate Bowden’s 14th tally, with helpers
being awarded to Tyler Ewald and Zach Van Boxtel.
There was no more scoring until 8:33 of the middle 20 minutes when Ewald
upped the lead to 4-0 with assists going to his linemates Bowden and Van
Boxtel.
Blades captain Ben Barnard then made it 5-0 when he scored his sixth goal,
which was shorthanded, at 18:15 with Van Boxtel and Alex Edwards picking up
assists.
Wallaceburg finally go on the board with just two seconds left in the second
period thanks to a powerplay goal by Connor Debot.
The Thunderhawks cut the Blenheim lead to 5-2 when Noah Labonte tallied at
5:52 of the third frame, and the Blades Connor Wright finished off the goal-
scoring for the night with his fifth of the season at 14:23, assisted by Evan Wells
and Barnard.
BLADES BITS: Santa Claus made is annual trip to a Blades game and was on
hand to greet young and old alike…Caleb Pinsonneault played his third straight
game in net for Blenheim, and stopped 28 of 30 Wallaceburg shots…The Blades
fired 39 at Thunderhawks’ netminder Catalin Morin…Not dressed for Blenheim
were Seth Henderson, Trent Amaro and Ayden McKinlay…Goalie Jake Vancoillie
was again not available, so South Kent Minor Hockey Association netminder
Sean Roberts served as Pinsonneault’s backup…The three stars of the game in
order were Bowden, Van Boxtel and Wright…Sunday’s ice time sponsor was
Kent County Bailiffs Services.