Matt Clark's hat trick helps propel the Blades to a 10-4 win over the Wallaceburg Lakers in Blenheim Saturday night.
Blenheim's dominant victory keeps them maintaining a first-place showing in the PJHL Stobbs Conference standings, with their 32 points just two more than the Lakeshore Canadiens. The Lakers are mired in last place with just three points.
The Blades began the game with three unanswered goals within the first six minutes of the opening period. Patrick Wright and Keir Cumming each found the net before Clark scored the first of his goals at 5:48. The Lakers went on a power play soon after and Alec Segers got Wallaceburg on the board to make the score 3-1 Blenheim. But just 20 seconds later, Drew Marlatt made it a three-goal lead once again. Clark's second goal of the night gave the Blades a 5-1 lead at the first break.
Clark picked up where he left off after intermission and completed his hat trick at 1:07 into the second period. Dustin Maines contributed to the onslaught a little over two minutes later to make it 7-1 Blenheim. Wallaceburg would close out the second period on a power play goal from Brayden Kettlewell.
In the third, Kettlewell connected again for the Lakers at 5:54 into the period. Blenheim would then score three more unanswered goals, from Nick Delyzer, Cumming, and Nate Broek. Josh Farrugia got the Lakers their fourth and final goal with three minutes left in regulation.
Adam Craven knocked away 13 of Wallaceburg's 17 shots for the Blades, who host Amherstburg on Sunday, December 4. Wallaceburg hosts Essex on Wednesday night.
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Cody Schneider scored two goals and assisted on another one as the Strathroy Rockets beat the St. Thomas Stars 7-4 Saturday night at West Middlesex Arena.
Despite outshooting the Rockets 31-29, the Stars and goalie Cooper Seedott allowed seven goals.
The Stars did score first, an unassisted goal from Dawson Winchester at 4:53 in the first period. Schneider then got the equalizer for Strathroy. This would be followed by two more Rocket goals from Spencer Allen and Greg Marks. Curtis Ferreira would pull the Stars within one with a goal at 33 seconds left in the period.
The Rockets got two straight goals to start the second period. The first was a short-handed tally from Max Ewart at 1:24 into the period, the second was a power play goal from Lucas Latina at 8:23. Kevin Hu scored the first of two goals on the evening at 18:28 to make the score 5-3 Strathroy, but just five ticks later, Jeff Williams put the Rockets up by three again.
In the third period, Schneider picked up his second score, on the power play at just a minute into the stanza. Hu scored again for the Stars at 15:04.
Zach Weir was the winner between the pipes for Strathroy, who next host the LaSalle Vipers next Saturday night. St. Thomas welcomes Leamington on Friday night.