Blewett breaks slump with hat trick

     Dolphins' forward scores three and sets up two goals in a 10-4 win over Lucan

     keeping Dorchester on top of the PJHL Yeck Division standings

    Friday, November 30, 2018 (Update: Monday, December 3)

By Rob J. Ross 

DORCHESTER - Appears Nolan Blewett has snapped from his goal scoring drought.

The Dorchester Dolphins' forward had a hat trick, with a goal in each period, in his team's 10-4 message to the Lucan Irish, in the Provincial Junior Hockey League Yeck Division.

Blewett opened the scoring just over four minutes into the game, picked up the game winner with his second goal and completed the three goal performance with a dandy solo effort. Blewett also drew assists on goals by Turner Balasin and Aidan Reid.

With just one goal in his previous five games Blewett was frustrated with his lack of finish around the net, particularly on breakaways.

"I haven't been playing well but we went out there and the boys played well and helped me out with good assists," said Blewett. "I've had lots of scoring chances. I just couldn't put it into the net, but it started flowing tonight.  I'm feeling a little bit more confident in myself to know that I can score on breakaways again."

Blewett who had a career high 43 goals during the 2016-17 season with the Port Stanley Sailors, sits on 99 career goals in the PJHL.

Blewett and Dylan Buckholz, who tallied twice, now have a share of the goal scoring lead in the Yeck, with Exeter's Jonathon Frook and Carter McLlwain, all with 18 goals.

Dolphins' defenceman Braidon Duncan said teammates were giving Blewett some friendly ribbing on his lack of finish.

"We were joking with him the other day that he can't score on breakaways. He's had 50-something breakaways. But he scored three tonight so that's good for him," said Duncan. "You always have to look for him and get the puck on his stick. He's the fastest skater in the league and he'll put the puck into the net."

In a penalty filled game with 128 minutes of combined and defensive play not at the forefront, Dorchester led 5-0 before Lucan found the back of the net and 7-2 after 40 minutes. Shots on net were 58-36 in favour of the Dolphins.

"It got a little chippy and everything just going every way with a lot of penalties," said Blewett. "We battled through, kept our foot on the gas and kept scoring."

The 21 year old was also on the other part of his game, thanks in part to his speed.

"I like to draw penalties," said Blewett. "It really gets into their (opponent's) heads and makes me laugh. It gets them really mad and worked up. I like that part of the game."

The Dolphins scored a season high 10 goals in a game, but nothing from nine power play opportunities.

"It's a work in progress," said Duncan of the division's fifth ranked power play operating at 14.96 percent. "We just started with something new and we're just trying to find the right guys. It'll come."

On this night the penalty killers were out scoring the power play unit. Buckholz and Dylan Van Dusen both buried pucks while shorthanded during Ryan Van Roestel's minor penalty late first period.

"That happens a lot in this league. There are a lot of short-handed goals," said Blewett.

Van Roestel netted his 10th goal of the season, while Ryan Poley picked up his third goal.

Reid picked up two assists and the 18-year old defenceman now sits fourth in team scoring with five goals and 13 assists. He sits second in the division for defencemen, three points back of Exeter's Ian Vandenheuvel.

Cameron Amos, Jason Braun, Brandon Sanders and Dillon Saunders, with his 16th of the season, scored for Lucan.

Dolphins' forward Colin Capstick had been suspended seven games after receiving a gross game misconduct penalty for derogatory comments at the start of the third period.

It continues to be a tight battle for first place with the Dolphins (19-5-0-0) holding a two point advantage over the second place Exeter Hawks (18-6-0-0). The Hawks got by the North Middlesex Stars, 6-5, in overtime.

'Phins win 20th game

The Dolphins won their 20th game of the season, erasing a two goal deficit in the third period, to defeat the Aylmer Spitfires, 4-2, on December 1.

Trailing 2-0, the Dolphins scored four time in 14 minutes, with Griffin Sinden, Austin Bisschop, Noah Lambe and Dylan Buckholz finding the back of the net.

Dylan Vandersleen and Pete Vanderwyst scored for Aylmer.

Dorchester was zero for seven on the power play, while Aylmer went zero for five.

Pettipiece returns to high school

Alex Pettipiece has returned play high school hockey.

"We didn't want him to go, but at the end it's his decision," Dolphins' GM Bruce Schruder said.

The 18-year old forward had five goals and 11 assists in 19 games.

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