Blades Go Toe-To-Toe with Division Leaders
The Steele County Blades junior hockey team may have served notice during a weekend series hosting first-place Wisconsin Rapids. The Riverkings came away with the sweep, but the Blades traded blows in Friday s opener before falling 6-4 in front of an enthusiastic, fired up crowd at the Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna. Saturday s wrap up went to the Kings 5-1.
[Scroll down for interviews with players Pierce Lee and Jakob Kalin.]
The Blades pressured right away Friday with good scoring chances. When Wisconsin Rapids scored at 7:34 of the first period, the Blades responded with a power play from Braden Trivelpiece (Moscow, ID) 40 seconds later. The game went to intermission at 1-1.
Blades Open Long Home Stand with a Win
Through the first three months of the junior hockey season, the Steele County Blades has played four games on their home rink at Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna. On Sunday, January 31 they started an 18-day stretch of seven straight games on Dudley Otto Rink. The Blades topped Rum River 4-2 to begin the home stand. They host the Rochester Vipers at 7 pm on Monday, February 1. The Blades are allowing a limited number of fans into their home games.
Several players made their Blades debut on Sunday, coming south from a team in a Saskatchewan, Canada league that is pausing activities according to word around the rink. Jakob Kalin (Calgary, Alberta) scored two goals. Joe Young (Regina, Saskatchewan) backstopped the victory with 26 saves. And Brock Wallace (Grand Prairie, Alberta) made for a formidable presence on the blue line at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds.