Dresden Kings vs. Essex 73s – Series Preview

While almost no one saw the North Division 1st versus 4th series between the Blenheim Blades and Dresden Kings as a David versus Goliath situation, the second round of the Great Lakes Junior C playoffs featuring the Kings and Essex 73s will definitely have that feeling.

The series will kick off Sunday night in Dresden at 7:30pm. Essex won all four meetings between the two teams in the regular season and finished a whopping 20-points ahead of Dresden in the standings.

That doesn’t mean however, that you should be writing the Dresden Kings off just yet. Dresden played much of the season short staffed due to injuries and other commitments from players, and only picked up veterans Jesse Allen and Jim Rouse part way through the season. As well, other players including goaltender Brent Paxton, and playoff leading scorers Josh Beatty and Dylan Mertz, have stepped up to the plate in the post season thus far, adding new threats to Dresden’s lineup.

After scoring only 10 goals in the regular season, Beatty scored 6 in the opening round 5 game series against Blenheim, including the overtime winner in game 4. Mertz picked up points in each game against Blenheim, including a game two hat trick to lift the Kings to a 5-4 win.

In net, Brent Paxton has been solid, making key saves when needed.

Although Dresden cannot be underestimated, the Essex 73s will enter the series as huge favourites to advance to the Great Lakes Junior C final.

Dresden will need to shut down the scoring combination of Brian Hamlin and Tyler Pope-Ferguson who combined for 15 points in their opening 4 game sweep of the Kingsville Comets, as well as 104 points during the regular season.

The main attack Essex brings to the series, is a group of puck moving defenseman who have the ability to control the pace of the game. The group of Kevin Boggs, Tyler Raymont, Dan Bacon, Blaise Baillargeon, and Mac Laforest would be a formidable defense corps at the Junior B level, not to mention Junior C.

Dresden will also need a helping hand from a loud home crowd that has managed to pack close to 800 fans per game into the Lambton-Kent Memorial Agricultural Centre in the opening round, to combat the always large and loud crowds in Essex.

Below is the schedule for the series.

Game #1 Sunday February 26th 7:30 PM Dresden

Game # 2 Tuesday February 28th 7:00 PM Essex

Game # 3 Friday March 2nd 7:00 PM Essex

Game # 4 Monday March 5 7:30 PM Dresden

Game # 5 Tuesday March 6th 7:00 PM Essex

Game # 6 Friday March 9th 7:30 PM Dresden

Game # 7 Saturday March 10th 7:30 PM Essex