Blades put on an Alumni Hall of Fame Night show

It was Dave Baldwin Alumni Hall of Fame Night at the Blenheim arena
Saturday, and once two alumni games were played – one at 3 p.m. and the
second at 4 – the Blades hosted the Dresden Kings, and totally dominated the
game winning 10-0 before 633 fans.
The victory gives the Blades 31 points thanks to their 15-5-1 record at the half
way mark of the 42-game season. The win also moves the club back into second
place in the eight-team division, a point up on the Lakeshore Canadiens and
Wheatley Sharks.
Next action for the Blades will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Essex against the first-
place ’73s. Essex has 34 points thanks 16 wins, along with two defeats, and a tie.
The tie was a 4-4 score Nov. 12 in a game in Blenheim against the Blades.
Friday the Blades will be in Lakeshore, and then return home Sunday to host
Essex. Both games are at 7 p.m.
Blades team captain Craig Spence continued his torrid point streak scoring
twice, and adding four assists. It was the second six-point game in a row for the
Chatham native, who now has 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points.
Since November 10 Spence has scored 10 goals and assisted on 13 others, and
currently sits tied for first with teammate Tate Bowden in the over-all scoring in
the Stobbs Division.
Bowden netted a goal and an assist Saturday and has 16 goals and 24 assists
for his 40 points.
Rookie Andrew Goulet had a four-point night, scoring his fifth of the season
along with four assists.
Braden Twigg (2nd), Everitt Swayze (1st), Ryan Sanders (8th), Brad McAlpine
(10th) and Gavin Meriano (5th) had the other Blenheim goals.
Meriano was credited with two assists along with Justin Ewald, while single
helpers went to newcomer Jack Lewis, McAlpine, Joey Hayter and Swayze.
Swayze’s goal was the first of his Junior career.

The game saw an endless parade of players from both teams to the penalty
box with Dresden being assessed 60 minutes and Blenheim 52, and took two
hours and 20 minutes to play. Most games are two hours or a bit less.
Jake Vancoillie was in net for Blenheim and stopped all 21 Dresden shots
while his teammates peppered the Kings netminder with 61.
Vancoillie now has a seven-win, three-loss record and a 3.01-goals-against
average with two shutouts.

BLADES BITS: Prior to the game four members of the Blenheim News Tribune
were inducted into the Blades Hall of Fame…They were former Blades
netminder, current executive member, and owner of the Blenheim
News Tribune Peter Laurie, the paper’s sports writer Mike Bennett,
photographer Paul Cundle and Dave Stepniak, who forever has been
behind composing and printing of the Blades programs…Not dressed
for the Blades were defencemen Remi Steen and Matt Hayter, and
forwards Darby Lemieux, Beau Moison and Zack Van Boxtel…The
Blades scored one powerplay and one shorthanded goal…The
Blenheim Dance Collective hosted a bar upstairs in the arena…The
game was the first for two former Blades – Connor Roth and Ian
Campbell – who both quit the team several weeks ago and demanded
a trade to Dresden…Both were held off the scoresheet, and Roth was
ejected from the game at 18:13 of the second period after picking up
his third stick infraction…The three stars of the game were Spence,
Swayze and Vancoillie in the order…Ice sponsors were Century 21
O’Brien Real Estate and Art Huffman.