Is Blenheim The Team To Beat?

After watching the Belle River Canadiens dimantle each of their first three opponents by a total score of 21-6, most hockey fans from the region expected much of the same Sunday nigth as the Blenheim Blades hosted Belle River.

Blenheim however, proved they are the early team to beat in the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League by defeating the Belle River Canadiens 4-3 to improve to 4-0 this season.

Even more surprising for the Blades, is it has been their young local players who have been powering the team offensively during their early run, coupled with spectacular goaltending from veteran Dylan Vanderpol.

Belle River opened the scoring Sunday with markers from Brandon Larocque and Donovan Plummer. Blenheim would get one back as Aaron Pastorius scored on the powerplay after being set up by Zach Horvath and Trevor Sparks.

It looked as though Belle River was in control of the game in the second as Brenden Crundwell scored to give the Canadiens a 3-1 lead heading into the third period, but the young Blades fought back in the final frame.

With less than six minutes remaining on the clock Tyler Clarke and Highgate’s Kurt Beecroft scored a pair of powerplay goals in just over a minute to tie the game 3-3.

Then, with only 1:08 remaining in the game, Zach Horvath, who played ‘AA’ in Chatham last season, scored to lift the Blades to the win.

Vanderpol made 29 saves in the win, out matching his Blenheim coutnerpart from last season Brendan Cowell who allowed 4 goals on 21 shots.

Blenheim now has a week off before hosting Port Stanley in the first cross over game with the SOJHL. Puck drop is 7:15pm, Sunday, September 23 in Blenheim.