Huge win for Blades over the ’73s

ESSEX – So far this Provincial Junior Hockey League Stobbs Division season there
has been a three-tier grouping in the nine-team league.
The unbeaten Lakeshore Canadiens, the Essex ’73s and the Mooretown Flags in
the top one – the Blenheim Blades, Amherstburg Admirals and Wheatley Sharks in
the second one, and the Petrolia Flyers, Wallaceburg Thunderhawks and Dresden
Kings in the third.
Going into Tuesday night’s game between the Blades and Essex in Essex a top
tier team had not lost a game to any of the other six clubs.
That all changed when the Blades, leading Essex 3-2 after two periods, scored
twice on just three shots in the third period for a huge 5-3 victory that moved the
club into fifth place with 18 points and a 9-10-0-0 record.
The Blades are one point behind the Admirals, and one up on the Sharks who
host the Admirals Wednesday night in Wheatley.
Blenheim will be back in action Saturday when they travel to Amherstburg to
play the Admirals at 7 p.m., and then host Wallaceburg Sunday at 7. It will be the
team’s last game before Christmas.
There was no scoring in the first period, with the Blades getting three goals in
the second and Essex two.
Tate Bowden, the game’s first star, scored twice for the Blades giving him 13
goals on the season, with Seth Henderson netting his 14th , and rookie Jared
Delaey, who was playing just his second game since recovering from an injury
sustained in September in the exhibition season, got his first-ever Junior tally.
Luke Sherk, Carson Noble and Matt Smith scored for Essex.
Tyler Ewald picked up two assists for Blenheim, with Henderson, Connor Wright,
Evan Wells and Ben Barnard getting one each.
Veteran Caleb Pinsonneault, who was named the game’s second star, was
between the pipes and had another outstanding game stopping 32 of 35 shots
including all 10 in the final 20 minutes with the ’73 pressing to tie the game.

BLADES BITS: Santa Claus will be making his annual appearance to greet fans
before Sunday’s game…Not dressed for the Blades were Ian Campbell, Jeff Carey
and Trent Amaro…The Blades with the victory have now won three of their last
five games…Essex outshot Blenheim by more than a double total 35-17.