Blades make it four straight, beat Essex 2-1

ESSEX – So far this season going into Tuesday night’s game for the Blenheim Blades against the first-place Essex ’73s, the PJHL
Stobbs Division leading ’73s had only lost once in regulation time and twice in overtime in 31 games.You can now make it twice in regulation as the Blades scored two second period goals, and went on to defeat the ’73s 2-1 before 495
fans.
The victory was the fourth in a row for Blenheim, three of them by 2-1 scores, following a six-game losing streak, and the Blades and Essex will hook up again Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Blenheim Memorial Arena. The Blades have now played 36 of their 42-game schedule, and are tied for third with 44 points with the Wheatley Sharks. The Sharks have only played 32 times.

The Mooretown Flags are fifth with 33 points.Essex opened the scoring at 16:10 of the first period when Austin
Guevremont scored. The lead only lasted until 1:49 of the middle 20 minutes when Austin Drew netted his eighth of the season for the Blades, with an assist going to Tate Bowden.

Veteran Connor Wright then scored on a powerplay shot from the point at 12:07 of the period to put the Blades ahead to stay.
Drew and Darby Lemieux set up Wright’s eighth goal of the season. From then on Blenheim netminder Jake Vancoillie barred the door
as he made 27 saves overall on the night, while his teammates fired 35 at Essex netminder Adrian McBride.

BLADES BITS: The Blades had one goal disallowed that was by all reports definitely scored…Blenheim has six regular season games
remaining – Essex, Dresden and Wallaceburg at home, and on the road in Lakeshore, Wheatley and Mooretown…Not dressed for the
Blades were Noah Prudhomme, Alex Edwards and Ayden McKinlay…Drew was selected as the game’s first star, Vancoillie the
second and Essex’s Guevremont the third.