Blades Down Lakers On Teddy Bear Toss Night
The Wallaceburg Lakers annual teddy bear toss scored lots of new furry friends for the Wallaceburg Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul. Pictured above is Sandy Williams (Lakers executive member), Cindy Shepley (St. Vincent De Paul), Gerri St Pierre (Salvation Army) and members of WMHA. Photo courtesy of Tom McLaughlin.
The Blenheim Blades put a damper on the Wallaceburg Lakers’ teddy bear toss night with a 5-2 road win on Wednesday night.
Although later than anticipated, the fur DID eventually fly, with all stuffed toy donations being split between Wallaceburg’s Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul.
Blenheim continued a hot streak that has them winners of seven of their last eight games. The only loss in that stretch was a 2-0 shutout at the hands of Dresden on the Blades Alumni night last Saturday.
Corbin Hagerman opened the scoring for Blenheim with a first-period power play one-timer set up by Drew Marlatt and Dylan Hathaway. After one period, the teddy bears picnic was delayed temporarily.
The Blades expanded their lead to 4-0 in the second, behind markers from Bryce Broad, Brayden Hopkins and Dylan Hathaway before Justin Lindsay unlocked the teddy bears with the man advanage. The Lakers’ goal was Lindsay’s ninth of the season and came from George Wood and Brendan Ritchie. Ritchie, Wood and Lindsay are Wallaceburg’s top three scorers, each producing at more than a point-per-game.
Lakers fans held their breath early in the third as George Wood took an awkward fall into the boards and limped off of the ice. When Wood returned to the ice, he headed directly to the front of the Blades goal crease, where he received a pass from behind the net and brought Wallaceburg back within striking distance with more than 15 minutes remaining in regulation. Blenheim had other plans, as Drew Marlatt put the game on ice just 68 seconds later with his team leading 15th goal of the season.
Marlatt and Hopkins both finished with one goal and two assists for Blenheim. George Wood recorded a goal and an assist for Wallaceburg. The Lakers, who fall to 3-20 on the season, were one for ten on the power play