Allen, Schaafsma Shine in Euro Hockey

A pair of Blenheim, Ontario hockey players have played key roles with their team’s this season overseas.

Chris Allen, a defenseman and coach with the Peterborough Phantoms, was the top scoring defenseman in the English Premier Ice Hockey League with 49 points in 47 games.

This week, Allen was selected as a first team Premier Ice Hockey League All-Star. Allen is a former 3rd round NHL draft pick of the Florida Panthers and played 2 NHL games between 1997 and 1999.

Another Blenheim product, Jamie Schaafsma is also making waves overseas playing for HC Gherdeina in Italy. During the regular season, Schaafsma scored 25 goals and added 31 assists in 37 games.

Last week, playing in the Italian Division II semi-finals, Schaafsma scored twice in the final four minutes of play in game seven of Gherdeina’s series against HC Neumarkt Egna to send the game to overtime, helping his team eventually win the series.

In the first game of their final series against Hockey Milano Rossoblu, Gherdeina lost 4-1. Game two is Wednesday evening, followed by game three Friday. Schaafsma currently leads all playoff scorers with 9 goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 11 games.