Blades win season opener

WALLACEBURG – The Blenheim Blades travelled to Wallaceburg Wednesday night to kick off their 2022-23 Provincial Junior Hockey League Stobbs Division 42-game season, and came home with an impressive 5-2 victory over the Thunderhawks.

    On the night the Blades fired 63 shots at Wallaceburg netminder Mitch Rawlings, while allowing only 20 on their own goal tended by veteran Jake Vancoillie.

  Blades Director of Player Personnel Bill Saunders said, “I have been with the Blades since 1997, and I don’t ever remember us getting 63 shots on net in one game”.

   Also impressive was the play of the trio of rookie Austin Drew, and veterans Zach Van Boxtel and Tate Bowden, as they figured in the first four goals with Drew scoring twice and getting two assists, Van Boxtel a goal and three assists and Bowden two assists.

   Veteran defenceman Alex Webster and veteran Trent Amaro also scored for the Blades.

  Other assists went to rookie defenceman Owen Reeve and for former Junior ‘B’ defenceman Noah Prudhomme.

   Wallaceburg tallies were by Brayden Kraayenbrink and Josh Remsik.

   BLADES BITS: It was the second season opener in a row for Drew to have a big night…Last year he was an AP call-up for the game and scored twice against the Dresden Kings…The Blades were missing forwards Evan Wells (suspended), Ian Campbell (school) and defenceman Alex Edwards (injured)…The Blades are now idle until their home opener Sunday, Sept. 25 against the Amherstburg Admirals…The team will be taking part in Blenheim’s Terry Fox Run Sunday morning…Season tickets will be available at the home opener…Adults 22 to 54 years of age at $130, seniors 55+ $90, students 13-21 $90 and youth 6 to 12 $60…Single game admission tickets are the same as last year – $8, $6 and $4.