Blades Look Sharp in Opener

The Blenheim Blades looked sharp in their season opening game of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League season. Facing their rival, the Dresden Jr. Kings, Blenheim was able to edge the Kings and take the opener with a 2-1 win.

Jared Oliphant opened the scoring for Blenheim in the first period, assisted by John McKillop and Aaron Pastorius, which would prove to be the Blades’ only goal in regulation.

In the second, sophmore Kings forward Derek Daly scored to tie the game. Kyle Havens assisted on the goal.

The third period proved to be a showcase of the team’s veteran netminders with Dylan Vanderpol of Blenheim, and Dresden’s Brent Paxton shutting the door. The netminders made 20 and 33 saves respectively in the game.

After the 5 minute overtime solved nothing, the two team’s needed a shootout to decide the game. Tyler Clarke scored for Blenheim, but Derek Daly responded in the second round, sending the shootout into extra rounds. Finally, in the tenth round of the shootout, Trevor Sparks scored for Blenheim and Vanderpol shut the door, giving the Blenheim Blades the 2-1 win.

Blenheim will now host the Wallaceburg Lakers Sunday night, while Dresden travels to Wheatley on Monday.