The Mark’s Work Wearhouse Mount Pearl Junior Blades are not going away quietly. After losing the first 3 games of the series against the Celtics, the Blades have rebounded to win the last 2 games. Sunday night, they defeated the Celtics 3-2.

The Blades scored the loan goal in the first period as Brandon McDonald scored from Steve Bailey and Mike Rose. Matthew Oates scored 2 goals for the Celtics in the second period, as the Blades were down 2-1 after 2 periods of play. In the third period, Steve Bailey scored the tying goal from Lucas Coady and Rose. The game winner was scored by Lucas Dearing who converted a nice pass from Bailey on a 2-on-1 with just 3:03 left to play in the game. The Blades fended off the surging Celtics in the final minutes of the game, as the Celtics were on the power-play and had their goalie pulled from the net in the last minute of the third period. The Blades played most of the game with only 5 defensemen as Larry Gray received a game misconduct for checking from behind just 7 minutes into the game.

Nick Rodway made 31 saves for the win, while David Parsons made 23 saves for the Celtics. Rodway was named Jungle Jim’s Visiting Team Player of the Game, while Oates was named Jungle Jim’s Home Team Player of the Game.

Game 6 is set for Wednesday night, March 17, at the Glacier in Mount Pearl. Game time is 7:30pm.

The Mark’s Work Wearhouse Mount Pearl Junior Blades find themselves in a hole after a pair of 5-4 loses to the Junior Celtics this past weekend.

Friday night, at O’Hehir arena, the Blades took a 2-1 lead after the first period of play, on goals from Steve Bailey and Jacob Pitcher. After the second period, the Blades led the game 4-2. Michael Rose scored and Pitcher notched is 2nd of the game. However, during the second period, the Arena had some maintenance issues which caused a few lengthy delays. After these delays, it seemed as though the wind was taken out of the Blades sails. The Celtics came out firing in the 3rd period, scoring 3 goals and shutting the Blades out. Celtics goal scorers were Matthew Oates, Jeff Hustler, Shawn Roberts, Michael Ricketts and Travis Curtis. Nick Rodway was in net for the Blades, while David Parsons was between the pipes for the Celtics.

The series switched to the Glacier for Sunday night, and the end result was the same, a 5-4 loss. The Blades were in a hole most of the game, with Kyle Pardy opening the  scoring for the Celtics. Jacob Pitcher tied the game at 1, but the Blades were down 3-1 after the first period. The Celtics tacked on another 2 goals before Mount pearl attempted a comeback. Down 5-2 late in the third period, Bailey and Lucas Dearing scored late in the game, but it appeared to be too little, too late, as the Celtics came away with another 5-4 victory. Robert Barrett scored the other Blades goal. Scoring for the Celtics were Pardy, Matthew Oates with 2, Justin LeBlanc and Justin Kelloway. Rodway was in net for the Blades again, while Andrew Stanford played for the Celtics.

In the other Semi-final series, the St.John’s Junior Caps lead the CBN Junior Stars 2 games to 0.

The Blades will look to rebound and get back in the series Tuesday night at O’Hehir Arena. Can the Blades turn the series around? Tell us what you think.

The Mark’s Work Wearhouse Mount Pearl Junior Blades took control of their best of seven series with the Bell Island Junior Blues Wednesday night, with a 6-2 win. The win gives the Blades a 3 games to 0 lead in the quarterfinal series.

The Blades offense was boosted by the return of 2 players, Jacob Pitcher and Brandon McDonald, who missed to first 2 games in the series, offsetting the suspensions of Mark Hand and James Blair. Pitcher led the Blades with 3 goals, while McDonald had 2 assists. Steve Bailey contributed with 2 goals and an assist, while Matt Woodford scored the other Blades goal. The Blades had a 3-0 lead after the first, and led 4-0 after 2 periods of play. Nick Rodway was between the pipes once again and made 30 saves in securing the W.

Much like the first game, this game got rough at the end with 4 fighting majors handed out to both teams. McDonald, Dan Evans, Mike Rose and Matt McGrath dropped the gloves for the Blades. A total of  164 minutes in penalties were handed out.

Game 4 is set for Saturday night on Bell Island, start time is 7:15.

In the other quarterfinal series, St.John’s Junior Caps swept the Trinity-Placentia Junior Flyers 4 games to 0, the Junior Celtics completed the sweep of Avalon 4-0, and the Southern Shore Junior Breakers avoided a sweep by the CBN Junior Stars by winning in overtime, however CBN still lead the series 3-1.

The Mark’s Work Wearhouse Mount Pearl Junior Blades began their league quarter-final series with the Bell Island Blues this weekend, winning both games. The Blades traveled to the Island Saturday night, and came away with a 5-4 overtime victory, and then won 6-3 Sunday night in the Glacier.

Saturday

The Blades were down early in the first period with goals by Jonathon Hatchard and Raymond Whalen in the first 6 minutes, but the Blades battles back and lead 3-2 by the first intermission. Michael Rose scored the first 2 goals while Robert Barrett potted the third. Steve Bailey scored 1:17 into the second period on the power-play to put the Blades up 4-2, but Daniel Roberts replied not to long after. Jonathon Hull scored for the Blues in the third period, and the games was tied at the end of regulation. Lucas Dearing scored at the 2:13 mark of overtime, earning the Blades a hard fought win. Nick Rodway made 32 saves for the Blades in securing the win. Rose added 2 assists to earn Jungle Jim’s Visiting Team Player of the Game. Bailey and Barrett each chipped in with 2 assists as well.

Sunday

In Game 2 the Blades came out firing, showing why they earned home ice-advantage for this series. Paul Smith opened the scoring, giving the Blades a 1-0 lead after the first period. Steve Bailey scored twice in the 2nd and Lucas Dearing converted a short-handed marker. Dearing was sent on a break away as the Blades were killing off a 5-minute major penalty taken by James Blair for checking from behind. Steven Reid replied for Bell Island, as the second period ended 4-1 for the Blades. In the third period, Aaron Schwartz scored, and Bailey had his 3rd of the game for the Blades, while Corey Humby and Kyle Hutchings scored for the Blues. This was also a chippy period. There were 5 games misconducts and 3 fighting majors for each team handed out. In total in the game, there were 199 minutes in penalties handed out.

Nick Rodway was in net for the Blades making 23 saves in the win, while George Street made 18 saves in the loss for the Blues. Lucas Dearing was named Jungle Jim’s Home Team Player of the Game, while Sean Quinlan was named Visiting Team Player of the Game.

With this series starting out very rough, it looks to be an exciting Game 3 Wednesday night at the Glacier, the puck drops at 7:30. Also on Wednesday night, Chuck-a-puck during the second intermission will be sold 2 pucks for the price of one. So don’t forget to purchase your RONA Chuck-a-puck, as well as your 50/50 tickets.

Other Series

St.John’s Caps lead Trinity-Placentia Flyers 3 games to 0

Celtics lead Avalon 3 games to 0

CBN Stars lead Southern Shore Breakers 3 games to 0

Bailey celebrates after scoring on Breaker's goalie Walsh | Photo by: Colin Peddle

The Mark’s Work Wearhouse Junior Blades defeated the Southern Shore Junior Breakers 3-1 Sunday night at the Glacier, ending the regular season. The Blades finish the year in third place, meaning they will now meet the Bell Island Junior Blues in the first round of the playoffs.

The Blades had to play short-handed for the majority of the game as Brandon McDonald was ejected from the game for checking from behind at the 9:37 mark of the first period. Mark Hand opened the scoring 3 minutes into the second period converting a pass from Robert Barrett. Dan Evans scored the would-be game winner, unassisted, less than 2 minutes after the first goal. Tom Leonard replied for the Breakers to bring them within one goal, but Steve Bailey restored the 2 goal lead at 8:46. There was no scoring in the third period. Nick Rodway kept the Blades in the game making some key saves in holding the shore to just 1 goal.

The Blades will open their playoff series Sunday night, Feb 21st, at the Glacier. Puck drop at 7:30.

Goals – Mark Hand, Dan Evans, Steve Bailey

Assists – Robert Barrett, Bailey, Evans

Goalie – Nick Rodway, 34 saves

Saturday night on Bell Island, the Mark’s Work Wearhouse Mount Pearl Junior Blades defeated the Bell Island Junior Blues 8-4. The score was tied 1-1 after the first period and 4-4 after 2 periods of play. The Blades held Bell Island off the score sheet in the third, while potting 4 goals. Steve Bailey and Aaron Schwartz paced the Blades in this game, each totalling 5 points. The Blades received points from 11 of their 16 skaters in this game.

Schwartz opened the scoring around the midway point of the first period, but Blues forward Paul Perham responded 13 seconds later to even the score. The Blades popped 2 goals early in the second period as Scwartz scored his second of the game and Dan Evans also scored. Michael Sherman replied twice for Bell Island 9 seconds apart. Bailey scored close to the end of the third, but once again the Blues tied the game as Daniel Roberts replied.

The third period was all Blades. Robert Barrett scored at 9:03 into the third. Bailey scored his second shortly thereafter, and James Blair scored on the Power Play with less than 3 minutes to play to put the game out of reach. Bailey scored late in the game to complete the hat trick. Nick Rodway was in net for the Blades for the victory.

Goals – Steve Bailey (3), Aaron Schwartz (2), Dan Evans, Robert Barrett, James Blair

Assists – Schwartz (3), Bailey (2), Mark Hand (2), Matt Woodford, Barrett, Paul Mitchelmore, Lucas Dearing, Julian Lovesless, Jacob Pitcher

Goalie – Rodway (32 saves)

The Blades will finish their regular season schedule this coming weekend as they will host the Southern Shore Junior Breakers Sunday night, Feb 14th.

Larry Gray fires a one timer from his knee to beat J. Penney top shelf. | Photo by: Colin Peddle

Friday’s Game: Blades: 4 – Blues: 5

They began the first of three games this weekend on Bell Island to face the Junior Blues and with just 1 minute played they were down by a goal courtesy of Blues forward Chris King. At the end of a lopsided first period the Blades were trailing 5 to 1 to the Junior Blues. Despite the early setbacks they battled back to 5-3 at the end of two with goals from Mike Rose and Aaron Schwartz with his second for the night. The third period was started with a goal from Matt Woodford just 3 minutes in, leaving almost a full period to tie things up. Unfortunately another comeback was not in the cards for the Blades, despite out shooting the Blues 46-31.

Player of the Game: Aaron Schwartz

Goals: M. Rose, M. Woodford, A. Schwartz (2)

Assists: P. Rose, S. Bailey (3), A. Scwartz, M. Rose, M. Hand, L. Dearing

Goalie: N. Rodway 60mins, 31 shots – 26 saves

Saturday’s Game: Blades: 6 – Avalon: 3

Saturday’s game against Avalon gave the Blades a chance to redeem themselves after a tough loss to the Blues and they didn’t waste it. Robert Bartlet was the first to put the Blades on the board with a shorthanded goal assisted by Mark Hand. Matt Woodford’s late second period goal proved to be the winner.

Player of the game: Aaron Schwartz

Goals: L. Gray, R. Bartlett (2), M. Woodford, A. Schwartz (2)

Assists: D. Evans, L. Dearing, M. Hand, J. Blair (2)

Goalie: N. Rodway 60mins, 31 shots – 28 saves

Sunday’s Game: CBN Stars: 8 – Blades: 6

The Blades played their third game in three nights on Sunday and played as such very early on. Adam Park (Stars) squeaked a wrist shot through Rodway’s five-hole just ten seconds into the game. The Stars were fore-checking hard, never giving the Blades a break in their own zone. With the Blades doing most of the heavy hitting, chippy play led to a tripping penalty on Paul Smith. This was all the Stars needed to put them up  2-0 half way into the first period. Despite getting 17 first period shots on Star’s goalie Jason Penney, most were lackluster attempts which were easily saved. But the Blades continued to put shots on net and battle it out in the defensive zone. With a few great saves from Rodway, including a blocker save off a screened tip shot and a great defensive play to save a goal by forward Brandon McDonald (24) to get back and lift the stick of a Stars player in a two on one; the Blades stayed in the game. Matt Woodford put the Blades on the board first with a solid fore-check leading to a smooth backhand chip in over Penney’s (Stars) left shoulder. Then with less then three minutes to play in the first, Phillip Brace made a nice play to keep the puck in at the Stars’ blue line for Bailey who wheeled and fired a snap shot from high slot over Penney’s left shoulder again.

The second period was back and forth from the very beginning with Jacob Pitcher tipping in a point shot to make it 3-2 with just one minute played. The Blades’ lead would be short lived however, after a face to the right of Rodway resulted in a slap shot from the point leaving a juicy rebound for Adam Park to fire past a sprawling Rodway.  Aaron Schwartz scored to put the Blades up 4-3 and then Robert Bartlett scored on a partial break-away after a five hole shot trickled over the line to beat Stars’ goalie Penney to make it 5-3. Both teams traded power play goals, including a well worked power play by the Blades to set up Larry Gray sneaking in off the blue line to fire a one timer from his knee to beat Penney upstairs for a beautiful goal. Ending the second the Blades looked well in command, leading 6-4.

Unfortunately for the Blades, the tired legs began to show in the third period with the Stars scoring four unanswered goals in the third period, two of which were on the power play while the other two were unassisted. The Thursday night all-star game meant five of the top players for the Blades were playing their fourth game in four nights, while the remainder were playing their third in three.

Player of the Game: Jacob Pitcher

Goals: L. Gray, S. Bailey, M. Woodford, R. Bartlett, J. Pitcher, A. Schwartz

Assists: S. Bailey (2), P. Smith, D. Evans, L. Dearing, B. MacDonald, P. Brace, J. Pitcher

Goalie: N. Rodway 60mins, 28 shots – 20 saves

Injury News

The weekend got off to a bad start a day early as Harry Bartlett left the All-Star game on Thursday with a groin injury. His status is unknown at this time but it’s feared his injury may be a lengthy one. AP Ben Gosse has been backing up Rodway in the meantime.