Blades Set to Honour Alumni

SUBMITTED BY BLENHEIM BLADES
www.blenheimblades.com

The Blenheim Blades will hold their annual ‘Alumni and Hall of Fame Night’ Saturday beginning at 3 p.m. at the Blenheim arena. 

The day will consist of three alumni games – at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. – followed by the Blades in Provincial Junior Hockey League Stobbs Division action against the Wallaceburg Lakers.

The Blades are in their 51st season with each alumni game featuring players from different eras. As of Monday night nearly 100 ex-Blades have indicated they will play Saturday.

Following the 5 p.m. game and prior to the Blades-Lakers contest the Blades will inducted four former organization members into the Hall of Fame – Tim Sanford, Mitch Pickering, Craig Smolders and Ray Bernicky.

All four worked for the Blades under then head coach Bob McNear.

Sanford, a former Blades captain, was team trainer for several seasons, an assistant coach and executive member.

Pickering began as an equipment manger before becoming a trainer, and executive member and eventually general manager. He still scouts for the Blades.

Smolders began his stint with the Blades helping out in the announcer’s booth before moving the equipment manager and then the executive. He also severed as team president.

Bernicky came on board as equipment manager, then trainer and executive member.