Chris France Nets 3 as Blades Beat Sharks

Chris France of the Blenheim Blades

WHEATLEY, ON – Forward Chris France of Tilbury joined Blenheim Blades half-way through the 2010-11 season playing in 18 games and scored a goal and picked up an assist for two points.

Friday night in Wheatley the 20-year old winger found the net three times and set up one goal for a four-point night as the Blades defeated Wheatley Sharks 5-3 in their second exhibition game.

The two teams will hook up again Sunday at 7:15 p.m. at the Blenheim arena. The game will be the final tune-up for Blenheim before the regular season begins Sunday, Sept. 18 when the Wallaceburg Lakers come to town.

Unlike Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to Wallaceburg in their first exhibition outing that saw mostly a rookie line-up, the Blades dressed 13 veterans, and it showed.

After giving up the first goal by Glen Croley at 3:50 of the first period, Blenheim took a 2-1 lead thanks to tallies by France and Nathan Puchnatyj. Rookie Trevor Sparks assisted on France’s first goal, with France and Shawn Hope setting up Puchnatyj’s.

France’s second score at 8:05 of the second period upped the lead to 3-1 with Hope assisting, before Austin Fontaine cut the gap to 3-2 at 14:36.

The Blades came out flying in the third frame with team-captain Taylor Phillips scoring an unassisted goal at 49 seconds, and France putting the game away with a power-play marker at 10:03. Hope also set that goal up for a three-point night.

The Sharks managed to cut the gap to 5-3 with a late power-play goal by Sabastian Kanally.

On the night Blenheim outshot the Sharks 44-34 with veteran netminder Brandon Cowell picking up the win.