Blades end losing streak, beat Sharks 3-1

WHEATLEY – The Blenheim Blades began their 2021-22 Provincial Junior Hockey Stobbs
Division season by winning their first three games, and then proceeded to drop their next four
falling behind 2-0 in each game.

That all changed Wednesday night when the team travelled to Wheatley to play the Sharks
and came home with a 3-1 victory before 271 fans at the Wheatley Area Arena.
This time the Blades jumped into the lead thanks to a first-period goal by rookie Connor Roth
at the seven minute mark, and never looked back.

The game was the first for Roth in a while as he returned from an injury, with the goal being
his second of the season assisted by veterans Connor Wright and Sebastian Stubberfield.
Wright, with his second of the year, gave the Blades a 2-0 lead on a powerplay at 13:27 of
the second period with assists going to two more veterans – Tate Bowden and Ben Barnard.
The Sharks cut the gap to 2-1 when Devin St. Pierre scored at 6:54 of the final 20 minutes,
but veteran Zack VanBoxtel restored the Blades two-goal lead at 11:51 assisted by Alex
Webster and Bowden.

Rookie Jake Vancoillie was in net for the Blades and picked up his second win stopping 26
shots, while the Blades fired 31 at Wheatley netminder Ethan Carlone.

BLADES BITS: With the win the Blades moved into fifth spot with their 4-4-0-0 record and
eight points, one behind Wheatley and one up on the Amherstburg Admirals…The game was
the second of three straight road games for the Blades, with the third being in Wallaceburg
Saturday night when the team tangles with the Thunderhawks at 7:30…Sunday the second
place unbeaten Lakeshore Canadiens (7-0-0-0) will visit the Blades at 7…The Blades, as they
have been most games, were once again short four players – Ian Campbell (school), Tyler Ewald
(one-game suspension) and Jared Delaey and Jeff Carey (injuries)…Wright was the game’s first
star, Bowden the second and Wheatley’s St. Pierre the third.