Ryan Malott scored a hat trick as the Blenheim Blades beat the Essex 73s 4-3 at home Sunday night.
It was the first action in the PJHL Stobbs Division following Christmas break. The 73s are still first in the division with 53 points, while the Blades are in sixth place with 32 points.
The Blades came away from the faceoff with three straight goals, two of them scored by Malott. Dede Cato completed the trio, which was scored within the first 12 minutes of first period. The 73s got on the board before the end of the period with a power-play goal by Michael Vieira.
Essex closed the gap further in the second period with a goal by William Stadder, the only score in the frame.
Malott made it a two-goal game again when he completed the hat trick at 3:09 of the third period. Stadder scored again for the 73s but Essex could not produce the equalizer.
Chris DeWulf backstopped the first two periods for Blenheim while Tyler Letchford handled the third. Together they collected 24 saves. Jax D'Hondt had 22 stops in the loss for the 73s.
Essex next travels to Wallaceburg on Wednesday for its first game of 2019. The Blades head to Amherstburg on Saturday.
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The Amherstburg Integrity Admirals had a strong start in its 3-1 over the Petrolia Flyers at the Libro Centre.
The Addys are third in the Stobbs Division with 41 points. Petrolia has 17 points for eighth place.
The Admirals began with back-to-back goals in the opening period. Kyle Meloche had the first one at 3:40, then Cory Burns doubled the lead just 59 seconds later. Amherstburg added a third goal in the second period when Max Clifford lit the lamp.
Petrolia averted the shutout in the final frame with Will O'Leary Dilosa's power play goal at 1:27.
Jared Ratko faced only 13 shots in goal for the Admirals and stopped 12. Josh Loranger had 25 saves for the Flyers.
Amherstburg hits the road on Wednesday when they take on Wheatley. Petrolia hosts Mooretown on Thursday.
