Blades fall a goal short in exhibition opener

The Blenheim Blades kicked off their four-game 2022 exhibition season Sunday night at the Blenheim arena against the Post Stanley Sailors of the PJHL Yeck Division and came out on the short end of a 4-3 score before 253 fans.  The Blades had five veteran Junior ‘C’ players in the lineup –forwards Ian Campbell, Ayden McKinlay and Trent Amaro, along with
defencemen Jax Boucher and Brad McAlpine – while the Sailors dressed several Junior C vets.

Port Stanley led 1-0 after the first period thanks to a powerplay goal by Trent Clinton, with Campbell tying things at 1-1 at 18 seconds of the middle 20 minutes, with assists going to Amaro and rookie Owen Reeve. Kam Korab put Port Stanley up 2-1 midway through the second, with Justin Ewald tying things for the Blades at 6:44 of the third frame.
Clinton scored his second of the game at 9:37 of the final period, with Theo Morrison extending the Port Stanley lead to 4-2 at 16:03.
Blades forward Jeremy Vandenbroom wrapped up the scoring for the night when he tallied with one second left to play.
Port Stanley outshot the Blades 42-34.

BLADES BITS:

Saturday the Blades will host another hot dog BBQ at Sobeys from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.…Hotdog and a drink for any donation…
The Blades’s next exhibition game will be Wednesday, Sept. 7 in Wheatley against the Sharks at 7:30, followed by a third exhibition game Friday, Step. 9 in Dresden at 7:30 against the Kings…The exhibition season wraps up Sunday, Sept. 11 with Dresden in town to face the Blades at 7 p.m.…The 42-game regular Stobbs Division season
kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 14 in Wallaceburg against the

Thunderhawks at 7:30…The Blades home opener will be Sunday, Sept. 25 when they host the Amherstburg Admirals at 7.