73's End Exhibition Season with Shutout
ESSEX - Gabe Piccolo paced the 73's with a pair of goals as the Essex 73's finished the exibition season with a 4-0 home-ice win.
Essex outshot the visitors, 39-24.
Luke Sherk and Liam Hall had the other Essex goals.
Adrian McBride posted the shutout, stopping all 24 shots directed his way.
Essex travels to Wheatley to kickoff the 2023-24 regular season, Saturday afternoon, for a 4:30 game against the Sharks.
Habs Trip Up 73's
LAKESHORE - Essex lost Friday night in Lakeshore, 5-2.
Essex appeared to the be the better team in the first and third periods, but three unanswered Lakeshore golas in the middle frame proved to be too much for the visitors.
Essex got goals from Joe Gingras and Nate Dowling.
Aedan Sullivan (2), Julian Gigniac, Noah Taylor and Josh Middletone had the Lakeshore goals.
Cavan McCabe picked up the loss in net, stopping 20-of-25 shots in the game.
73's Start Exhibition Schedule with a Win
ESSEX - The Essex 73s defeated the Amherstburg Admirals, 4-3 in exhibition play, Tuesday night at the Essex Centre Sports Complex.
The 73's got two goals from Marcus Levesque, and two from Carter Dembinski, including the game winner.
The Admirals got goals from Evan Cote, Owen Papulkas and Braeden Armstrong.
Essex outshot the visitors, 48-23.
Adrian McBride went the distance and picked up the win in goal.
Essex travels to Lakeshore Friday night to take on the Canadiens in yet another exhibition game.
Essex Blows Out A'burg in Home Opener
ESSEX - No one attending Tuesday night's home opener in Essex predicted a 13-goal blowout against one of the leagues premier teams of the last 10 years-plus.
But that's exactly what happened as the Essex 73's (2-0) bombed the visiting Amherstburg Admirals, 13-0.
Adrian McBride got the shutout win in goal for Essex turning aside all 21 shots he faced.
Essex led 5-0 after the first period, and 8-0 after the second period.
Liam Hall and Gabe Piccolo notched hat tricks for the 73's, Piccolo adding another three assists for a 7-point night.
Carter Dembinski (2), Nick Cameron, Luke Sherk, Jayden Seguin, Kale Couvillon and Travis Rivest had one goal each.
For Couvillon, it was a 5-point night.
The 73's travel to Dresden Friday night to take on the Jr. Kings. Game time is 7:30pm.
73's Spoil Sharks Home Opener
WHEATLEY - Carter Dembinski's second period goal proved to be the winner on Saturday afternoon as the Essex 73's opened up their regular season with a 3-1 road win in Wheatley.
Jake Fields opened the scoring in the first period with the lone assist going to Luke Sherk, his second of the night.
Wheatley's Shannon Olsen would tie the game at 8:36 of the second period with former 73's leading scorer, Issac Legood drawing one of the assists.
There would be no more scoring after Dembinski's go-ahead goal until 3:37 into the third period as 73's rookie, Madden Drouillard, potted his first career junior goal.
Adrian McBride went the distance in the Essex goal, stopping 18-of-19 shots fired his way.
Each team drew four minor penalties in what was a rather easy going game compared to last Tuesday's exhibition.
The 73's will host Amherstburg this Tuesday night at 7:00pm.
Five More to be Added to Wall of Honour
The Essex 73’s Wall of Honour will be adding 5 more names to it in 2023.
Last year, the Essex organization celebrated its 50th season and also established a Wall of Honour to pay tribute to those players, staff and others who have made a significant impact on the overall success of the club over the years.
Thirty players and six staff members were inducted to The Wall in the inaugural year, 2022. This year, five more will be added.
The Induction Ceremony will take place Saturday, Nov. 18th at the Essex High School Auditorium.
Ted LaBrash, Milan (Mike) Dobric and Mike Venables will be entering in the Players Category, while long-time equipment managers, Ron ‘Soupy’ Campbell and Ron ‘Peewee” Prpich will enter in the Coach & Staff Category.
“The selection committee deliberated throughout the summer months and reached a decision based solely on a voting system,” said former 73’s goaltender, and selection committee chair, Joe Garon. “We strongly feel these five members meet or exceed the meaning of The Wall, and are all most deserving of this honour.”
LaBrash played four years with the 73’s from 1982-1985, and is the last 73’s player to score 40 goals (44) and 80 points (87) in a season (1985) while leading the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League in scoring that same season. He will join The Wall posthumously as he passed away in 2021 at the age of 57 after a long and courageous battle with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Dobric played for the 73’s for three seasons (2008-2010) and was a high-scoring defenceman who also defended his own end as good as anyone. Dobric won one Schmalz Cup (2009). He is currently an assistant coach with the Lakeshore Canadiens.
Venables played five seasons in Essex and won two Schmalz Cups (2001 and 2005). He led his team in scoring on two occasions, including 2005 when he was crowned league scoring leader.
Campbell, referred to only as Soup, or Soupy, started his 73’s tenure in 1988-89 and was with the team in some capacity for over 20 years. His last season with Essex was 2013-14. He has been a part of 8 league championships and 2 Schmalz Cups.
Prpich, known simply as Peewee, started with the 73’s in 2002-03 and is in his 20th season with the club. He has been a part of 11 league championships and 3 Schmalz Cups.
The 73’s will release information on the Induction Ceremony in the coming weeks.
Essex 73's annual Golf Tournament Sept. 23
The 73's and company will hit the links on Saturday, Sept. 23rd at Belleview Golf Club.
The tournament is open to all and the entry fee is $130.00 per player. The format if 4-person Best Ball.
The tournament is full but if you wish to be added to the waiting list, email joegaron@hotmail.com.