Blades Acquire Rights To Gruszka From Lakers

SUBMITTED BY THE BLENHEIM BLADES

The Blenheim Blades have fired a major shot in the race to acquire premium players for the 2016-17 Provincial Junior Hockey League’s Bill Stobbs Division season.

The Blades have obtained the rights to 19-year old Ryan Gruszka, who is currently playing hockey in New Zealand, from the Wallaceburg Lakers.

Gruszka, a Belle River resident, is no stranger for Stobbs Division fans as he played 26 games with the Wallaceburg Lakers scoring 15 goals and adding 38 assists in 2013-14 before moving on to the Junior ‘B’ Lambton Shores Predators where in 16 games he had two goals and five assists.

He started the 2014-15 season in Wallaceburg scoring four goals and helping out on five others in nine games before joining three Junior ‘A’ teams – the Cochrane Crunch, the Campbellton Tigers and the Fort McMurray Oil Barons picking up another four goals and five assists in 31 games.

Last season Gruszka played for the Kingsville Kings in the Great Metro Junior ‘A’ Hockey League. In 28 games he scored 22 goals and added 20 assists for 42 points.

In an e-mail to Blades GM Wayne Cowell, Gruszka wrote “I am very excited to be part of the Blades organization. Hopefully we can get a championship under our belts.”

“Ryan will be a great addition to the Blades as he will be another offensive weapon to an already deep offensive lineup,” said Cowell. “To get someone with this kind of experience is a huge asset to the Blades. Ryan is very skilled and fast and not afraid to go into the dirty areas to get the puck. We are very pleased to welcome Ryan into the Blades family, as we try to strive to get that illusive championship.”

Blades head coach Ken Shine, who held the same position with the Lakers two years ago, had Gruszka in Wallaceburg and is delighted that the speedy centre is coming to Blenheim.

“Ryan is a good two way player with lots of speed and a hard shot,” said Shine. “He also has a feisty side. He is a very motivated player that will be fun to watch.”