ESSEX 73's junior hockey club

73's Topple Jr Kings

January 24, 2020

By: Garrett Fodor

24 hours after suffering a 3-3 tie to the Petrolia Flyers, the Essex 73’s were back in action Friday. They were looking to get back in the win column against the Dresden Jr. Kings. 

4:30 seconds in, 16 year-old rookie Karson Beuglet banged home a rebound to give Essex the lead early. And following the young centre’s goal, the 73’s offense continued to motor, registering 3 more goals on 14 shots in the period. Included in that was Keegan MacVoy scoring his first as a 73 and Liam Hall notching the second of his young tenure as a 73. 

Up 4-0 heading into the second period, the Kings come out of the intermission, looking like a new team and showing new life early. Derek Shaw put the Kings on the board just 22 seconds into the period, as he fooled a screened Jax D’Hondt. But the 73’s young forwards were quick to answer.  Hall scored two more goals to complete his hattrick, and Bryce Ryan also notched a tally in the frame. As Essex was up 7-1 after 40 minutes of play. 

In the final frame, the teams exchanged goals from Everett Parent and Kings forward Matt Gaudrault as the 73’s prevailed over the Kings, 8-2 while the shots were even at 40.

Essex will now be off until Tuesday as they have a rematch against the Kings. 

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73's Lose Critical Point to Flyers

January 23, 2020

By: Garrett Fodor

After defeating the Wallaceburg Thunderhawks 6-0 on Tuesday, Essex took their two game winning streak on the road Thursday, traveling to Petrolia.

Last time in Petrolia, the 73’s lost 3-2 on January 2nd. Similar to that game, the 73’s fell behind just 39 seconds in as Curtis Helps beat goalie Connor Meyerink. But nine minutes later it was “Shake ‘N’ Bake” time as Jack Sanko found Preston Corp, to tie the game at 1’s. Which would be the score heading into the intermission,  despite the 73’s outshooting the Flyers 20-9. 

After a scoreless second period the teams battled hard and relentlessly. 6 minutes into the third, Clay Dolbeat beat Meyerink with the man advantage. Three minutes later, Corp notched his second of the game to tie it at 2. The Flyers would score for the third time on 27 shots, to take a 3-2 lead with just over 6 minutes to play. But Essex took the life out of the Flyers as Conor Dembinski scored as the extra attacker, banging a shot by Jakob Knowles. 

Despite a 7 minute extra minute frame, the teams were unable to break the deadlock. As they tied 3-3. Final shot totals were 57-29 for Essex. 

Essex will be back in action Friday, traveling to Dresden. 

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73's Rise Above Thunderhawks

January 21, 2020

By: Garrett Fodor

As the race for third place in the Stobbs division heats up, the Essex 73’s are not making it easy.

After defeating the third place Amherstburg Admirals on Sunday, they returned home Tuesday, January 21, to host the Wallaceburg Thunderhawks.

From the opening faceoff, the 73’s were quick to pace the competition with speed and bursts of offense up and down the ice. Just 82 seconds into the game, Thunderhawks goaltender Nolan Hakr left a rebound exposed and Jack Sanko was sitting on the doorstep, to notch his 11th goal of the season. Just over 11 minutes later, the 73’s offense was at it again. Curtis Jackson blazed through the defensive and neutral zones untouched before walking in and roofing a shot high above Hakr’s glove to double the 73’s lead to 2, heading into the intermission. Shots in the period were 13-2 in favour of the home team.

In the second period, the 73’s continued to pace the Thunderhawks, constantly applying offensive zone pressure and cycling the puck around the Wallaceburg defense. Rookie forward Alex Demers increased the lead to three, just over nine minutes into the period. Closing out the period, Jacob Cruickshank finished off some tic-tac-toe passing to finish off a powerplay tally to put Essex up 4-0 after 40 minutes of play.

During the final frame, the 73’s offense continued to shine bright, firing 19 shots in the period. Newly signed rookie forward Everett Parent notched his first and second goals of his junior hockey career just 28 seconds apart to start the third period. As the 73’s cruised to a 6-0 win over the Thunderhawks. Jax D’hondt was in net, and turned aside 16 shots for his second consecutive Tuesday night shutout. While Nolan Hakr ended the night facing 44 shots for Wallaceburg.

The win puts Essex within two points of the Amherstburg Admirals for third place in the standings while the Wheatley Sharks sit 11 points behind the 73’s. However, both teams have two games in hand.

The 73’s will be back in action Thursday, as they travel to Petrolia to face the Flyers. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. 

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