Dresden Evens Series With Big Home Win

After losing two straight games to the top team in the Great Lakes Junior C loop, things looked grim for the Dresden Jr. Kings. That was however, until a loud home crowd, and a third period goal by Josh Beatty lifted the Kings back into their best of seven series.

Dresden stormed out of the gate jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Alex Schmidt started the scoring for the Kings on the powerplay with assists going to Beatty and Wendel Mertz.

Beatty then scored his first of the game to put the Kings up 2-0. The goal was assisted by Schmidt and Thamesville product Dillon Liberty, who recently returned to the ice following an arm injury that sidelined the 16-year-old for several weeks.

The second period was all Essex, as the series favourite stormed back with goals from Corey Beaulieu and Jordan Brohman to tie the game at 2-2. Both goals came with the Essex 73’s on the man advantage.

In the third period, with the Dresden crowd faithfully behind them, the Kings came out ready to send a message, and Josh Beatty sent that message early as he scored his second of the game, and the eventual game winning goal only 1:03 into the final frame.

After playing tight defense and picking up key saves from Brent Paxton for the next 19-minutes, Wendel Mertz put the game on ice scoring an empty net goal to secure the 4-2 victory.

Dresden will return to Essex Tuesday before returning home to Dresden, for a possibly deciding game Friday, with puck drop happening at 7:30pm.