Blades score early and often, beat Dresden 7-3 in season opener.

DRESDEN – The Blenheim Blades scored four times in the first period before the
Dresden Kings got on the board Friday night and went on to defeat the Kings 7-3
in their 2021-22 Provincial Junior Hockey League Stobbs Division season opener
before 350 fans Friday night in Dresden.
The Blades were missing four regulars – Connor Wright, Blain Bacik, Jared
Delaey and Sam McKinlay – for various reasons so general manager Bob Price
called up three affiliate players – Austin Drew, Mitchell Anderson and Landon
Hoskins – with Drew scoring twice in the first period and Anderson once to push
the team to the victory.
Blenheim will open their 16 game home season Sunday when the Petrolia Flyers
come to town for a 7 p.m. game. Thursday the Amherstburg Admirals pay the
Blenheim Memorial Arena a visit for a 7 p.m. game.
Fan capacity has been increased from 150 to 500 for Sunday’s game. All fans
must be double vaccinated, show proof and wear a mask before entering the
arena.
Besides Drew’s two goals and Anderson’s one, rookie Ayden McKinlay, rookie
Connor Roth, veteran Seth Henderson and Ian Campbell (in his first game since
coming down from the Junior ‘B’ Chatham Maroons Thursday) had the others.
Nathan Brown, Shaun Glover-Noah and Andrew Early scored single goals in each
period for Dresden.
Veteran Caleb Pinsonneault was between the pipes for the Blades and made 31
saves while his teammates fired 48 at a pair of Dresden netminders.
BLADES BITS: Ben Barnard had two assists for the Blades, as did Brett Wegrzyn
and Even Minnie…Veteran defenceman Colton Shoemaker chipped in with three
helpers and Campbell had one…Barnard has been selected as team captain, with
Connor Wright, Tate Bowden, Henderson and Shoemaker named assistant
captains.