Sting Goalie Impressesive in Season Debut for his Major Series Lacrosse Team
June 2, 2006 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Arizona Sting News Release
BRAMPTON, ON --- Arizona Sting goaltender Rob Blasdell made his Major Series Lacrosse debut Thursday night, starting in goal for the Barrie Lakeshores as they took on the Ontario Lacrosse Association's first place team, the Brampton Excelsiors, at the Powerade Centre in Brampton. The Excelsiors boast a powerful line-up that includes, amongst others, defending NLL scoring champion Josh Sanderson as well as 2005 scoring champ Colin Doyle. Blasdell made several big stops throughout the game, which ended in a 9-9 tie after a ten minute overtime period failed to produce a winner in the contest. The tie gives Barrie a record of 1-1-1 in 2006, while Brampton moves to 3-0-1 on the season. Lakeshores Head Coach Lindsey Sanderson was pleased with Blasdell's performance in the game, as his 44 saves on 53 shots helped earn Barrie a point as they attempt to move upwards in the OLA's Major Series Division standings.
"Rob made some big saves for us that kept us in the game," said Sanderson. "There were probably a couple that he'd like to have back, but overall we were pleased with how he played tonight."
The Excelsiors came out strong in the first period, peppering Blasdell with quality shots early in the match. The veteran net minder showed few signs of rust, despite having not played competitively since the Sting's playoff loss to Colorado on April 29. Blasdell turned aside shots from Aaron Wilson, Josh Sanderson, Colin Doyle, and Jeff Shatler in the game's opening five minutes. The Lakeshores , inspired by their goalie's efforts, ended up netting the game's first tally off of the stick of Luke Wiles at the 6:39 mark of the first period. After making saves on shots by Aimee Caines, Josh Sanderson, and Colin Doyle, the Excelsiors finally got a shot past Blasdell as Sanderson finished off a 3-on-0 break with a well-placed shot that found the back of the Barrie net. After denying Caines for a second time with 6:03 left in the opening period, Blasdell stoned Josh Sanderson twice from point blank range during a Brampton power play at 15:18 and 15:38 respectively. The Lakeshores' penalty kill ended up being unsuccessful on this occasion however, as Aaron Wilson scored a power play goal at 15:54 of the first to give the Excelsiors a 2-1 lead. Wilson's goal was a one-timer that was set up by Jeff Sheppard. The tally proved to be the final goal of the first period, as Rob Blasdell made saves off of Josh Sanderson at 16:34 and Aaron Wilson at 0:10 to send the game to it's first intermission with the score 2-1 in favour of the home team.
Blasdell continued his strong play into the second period, as he made saves off of Josh Sanderson, Colin Doyle, and Dan Teat in the frame's opening 90 seconds. He then stoned Doyle on a semi-breakaway at 2:39 of the second to keep his team within one of Brampton's lead. Doyle earned redemption 2:08 later, however, as he scored his first goal of the game on a high shot as his team was on another power play. After making saves on shots by Dan Teat (at 5:50), Aimee Caines (at 5:40), and Josh Sanderson (at 8:34), Blasdell stoned Aaron Wilson twice on shots from just outside of his crease (at 9:09 and 10:29 respectively). Colin Doyle then beat Blasdell for a second time to make the score 4-1 in favour of Brampton at the 10:51 mark of the second period. After stopping a shot delivered from the stick of Aaron Wilson at 12:02 of the second, Blasdell surrendered his fifth goal of the game, this time to Jeff Shatler, who was sent in all alone on a breakaway by Josh Sanderson. Barrie's offence then came to life, with Brandon Sanderson scoring at the 13:14 mark of the second to make the score 5-2. Then, after a huge save by Blasdell on a low shot by Aimee Caines at 13:39 of the second, the Lakeshores scored a transition goal 0:08 later as Mark Steenhuis finished off a pretty passing play to pull his team to within two of Brampton's lead. That would be the score as the game entered it's second intermission, as Blasdell made saves off of Jeff Shatler (at 14:52), Aaron Wilson (at 15:39), Josh Sanderson (at 16:56), Colin Doyle (at 18:24), and Cam Woods (at 19:59) to keep his team within striking distance of the Excelsiors.
A fluky goal by Sandy Chapman 0:49 into the third period gave Brampton a 6-3 lead. Chapman's pass was deflected in front of the Barrie goal and managed to find the back of the net. Blasdell regained his poise following the tally, however, as he made a big stop off of Aaron Wilson at the 2:00 mark of the third. The Lakeshores then scored three straight goals off of the sticks of Matt Holman (at 2:13), Chad Culp (at 3:54), and Jeff Gilbert (at 5:41) to tie the game at six. Josh Sanderson then put Brampton back in the lead by scoring his second goal of the game 6:10 into the third. Blasdell made a save off of Aimee Caines two minutes later, and Barrie re-tied the game 0:53 after that as Brandon Sanderson scored on an impressive individual effort to make the score 7-7. Blasdell then made six consecutive saves off of Josh Sanderson (at 9:40), Colin Doyle (at 14:38), Jon Harasym (at 14:50), Josh Sanderson twice more (at 16:27 and 17:40), and Harasym again (at 18:30) to keep the game deadlocked at seven goals apiece. With 0:51 remaining in regulation however, Josh Sanderson managed to beat Blasdell with a quick shot and give Brampton an 8-7 lead in the process. Brandon Sanderson would re-tie the game 0:40 later though, and Blasdell made a big save off of Jeff Shatler with 0:03 remaining in the third period to send the match to an extra frame.
In overtime, Blasdell made saves off of Aaron Wilson and Jon Harasym in the opening 90 seconds prior to stoning Josh Sanderson at the 3:34 mark to keep the game tied at eight. Barrie took a 9-8 lead on a goal by Luke Wiles at the 4:05 mark of OT, but Josh Sanderson re-tied the match 0:40 later on his fourth goal of the game. Neither team was able to score in the extra period's final half, as Blasdell made saves off of Jeff Shatler (at 6:15 and 8:17) and Jon Harasym (at 9:37) to earn a point for his team, who remain in fourth place in the OLA's Major Series standings. Blasdell was happy to earn his team a tie in his first start of the season.
"I felt pretty good out there tonight," said Blasdell. "I had a tough time in the second quarter, but our offence really came alive in the third to put us back in it. It's tough to take a month off and get right back into it against a strong team like Brampton, so while I'm disappointed not to get the win, we'll definitely take the single point here on the road."
In addition to playing for the Lakeshores this summer, Blasdell will also be spending lots of time with his wife and daughter in his hometown of Orillia. He is also the manager of 2nd Century Source For Sports in Orillia, a sporting goods retail store.
Sting forward Dan Dawson's younger brother Paul, recently called up from Junior 'A', dressed for Thursday night's game as a backup goaltender on Brampton but failed to see any action in the match. Currently in his final season of junior lacrosse, Dawson's team is ranked 4th out of 12 OJLA teams in goals allowed per game with a mark of 7.7.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from June 2, 2006
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