Blades fall to Amherstburg 5-2
Content submitted by: Bill Saunders
The Blenheim Blades, playing short four regulars again for various reasons, dropped their fifth game in their last seven starts Sunday as they fell 5-2 to the Amherstburg Integrity Admirals before a small crowd at the Blenheim arena.
The Blades, who had won two straight after losing a season high four in a row to drop out of first place in the Provincial Junior Hockey League Stobbs Division, are now 15-9-2 and tied for third place with 32 points with the Admirals.
The Essex 73’s sit in first with 35 points, with the Lakeshore Canadiens second with 34.
Next action for the Blades will be Friday when they travel to Lakeshore to play the Canadiens at 7 p.m. before returning home Sunday at 7 to host the Wheatley Sharks on “Skate With The Blades” night.
Playing without leading point getter Kier Cumming, assistant captain Matt Clark, George Wood and Patrick Wright, the Blades fell behind at 1:51 of the first period when Lucas Bersuk opened the scoring for the Admirals.
Ryan Alexander made it 2-0 Amherstburg at 7:46 of the middle 20 minutes, but lead only last for 27 seconds before rookie defenceman Derek Hueni blasted a shot from the point by Amherstburg goalie Catalin Morin to cut the margin to 2-1.
For Hueni the goal was the first of his Junior career with assists going to John Montgomery and Bryce Broad.
The 2-1 margin didn’t last long as at 13:33 another Blades rookie, Michael Vanek, took a four-minute high-sticking double minor and the Admirals scored twice while Vanek was in the box – Jordan Luciw at 13:53 and former Blade Dylan Muzzatti at 15:32 – to up the Amherstburg lead to 4-1.
Travis Campbell made it 5-1 at 16:31 before Nick Delyzer, with assists going to Hueni and Brayden Hopkins, wrapped up the scoring for the night at 16:57. The goal was Delyzer’s 17th of the season.
The Admirals outshot the Blades 37-26 and took 40 of 92 penalty minutes called by referee Wayne Peltier who was handing out misconducts like they were candy with the Blades getting four of them for 40 minutes and Amherstburg three for 30.
BLADES BITS:
Attendance was just 277.
Cumming, Clark and Wood – all out with upper body injuries – are expected back for the weekend, as is Wright who missed the game because of exams.
The annual “Skate With the Blades” will take place after the Sunday’s game against the Wheatley Sharks.
Fans young and old are urged for bring their skates and take a few turns around the ice with their favourite player or players.
The team will be holding another Quarter Auction Friday, Dec. 16 at the Blenheim Legion. Tickets are $5 and available in the lobby.
The Blades annual Cash Club draw will be held between the second and third periods of the team’s Dec. 18 game against the 73’s. Tickets are available in the lobby or by calling Bill Saunders at 519-676-7603.