Late third period goal sinks Blades in Dresden

DRESDEN – Three times the Blenheim Blades had a one-goal lead in their Provincial Junior Hockey League Stobbs Division game in Dresden Friday night, and each time the Kings rallied to tie things at 3-3 going into the third period.

  Dresden went up 4-3 on a goal by Jace Leach at 13:18 of the third, with Zach Van Boxtel evening things at 4-4 on a powerplay 18 seconds later.

  Then at 16:01 Ethan Waddick scored the eventual winner for Dresden before 274 hometown fans.

  The Blades now have three wins and four losses on the season for six points, and a tie for fourth with the Mooretown Flags, two behind the third-place Wheatley Sharks, and two up on the Kings and the Amherstburg Admirals.

  The Admirals will be at the Blenheim arena Thursday for a 7 p.m. game, with the Flags here next Sunday, again at 7.

   Van Boxtel, who now has five goals on the season, opened the scoring at 15:29 of the first period, with Dresden’s Colton Quipp tying things at 1-1 thanks to a powerplay goal three minutes later.

  Blades defenceman Alex Edwards put Blenheim back up by one at 1:24 pf the middle 20 minutes when he netted an unassisted goal.

  Dresden came right back at 6:07 when Trent Amaro, who had been traded from Blenheim to Dresden earlier in the day, evened things at 2-2.

  Adam Enwright, also traded Friday to Dresden, assisted on the play.

  Former Blade, Chatham Maroon and Leamington Flyer Darby Lemieux, playing his first game back with Blenheim, put his team up 3-2 at 16:40 with assists going to Ian Campbell and Ben Brooks.

  The lead last just over two minutes with Breck Rainey tying things at 3-3 at 18:54.

   The score stayed at 3-3 until Dresden’s Jace Leach tallied an unassisted goal at 13:18.

  Van Boxtel followed with his second of the night, and fifth of the season to again tie things. As mentioned, the goal came on a powerplay.

   Waddick then followed with his game winner.

   BLADES BITS: Jake Vancoillie was in net for the Blades and made 27 saves…The Blades outshot Dresden 40-32…New goalie Owen Lemieux, who Blenheim picked up earlier in the day in the Amaro, Enwright deal, was the backup…Blenheim took four of six minor penalties…Both teams had a powerplay goal.