The Oakville Blades hit the ice for the first time this season in an exhibition contest against the Hamilton Red Wings. Both teams beefed up their squad during the off-season in an attempt to make the play-offs this year after missing it back in 2013-2014. Featuring a squad of many unsigned players, Oakville showed great chemistry on the ice already, and it paid off as the team managed to win the game 7-2.
It didn’t take long for the Hamilton Red Wings to commit their first warm-up violation. In fact, it wasn’t just one penalty, but three separate players would have to serve time in the box as a result. Ross Sloan was able to get a solid scoring opportunity during the two man advantage, hitting the crossbar before having the puck deflected out. Before his shift came to a close; however, Sloan would end up taking a tripping penalty to negate the final 30 seconds of the Oakville power-play.
Sloan would make up for the penalty with a sweet assist before the halfway mark of the first. Following lots of pressure that would see Oakville take a 7-1 shot advantage, the speedy forward set up recently acquired winger Ryan Burns in the slot for the first goal of the pre-season. Over 30 seconds later, the Blades would see their second goal of the contest. Kamil Tkaczuk, returning to the Blades after his rookie season back in 2013-2014, converted a Christian Rajic pass in front into a 2-0 lead for the hometown club.
The great chemistry between Sloan, Burns and Joe Mitchell continued during the second period. In a 10 second span alone, the trio each registered a shot each in an attempt to open the scoring up even further. The hopeful attempts wouldn’t result in success; however, as 17 year old rookie Alex Bishop stood tall, making some beautiful sprawling pad saves.
Hamilton would get their first goal of the game just before the halfway point in the game. Playing in just his first pre-season OJHL contest, 20 year old Giovanni Foschia’s wrist shot would make its past Daniel Mannella, who was forced to make only 6 saves during his period and a half of action. As planned, Brendan McGlynn would take over between the pipes for his first game action of the year.
The Red Wings wouldn’t give up without a fight. In what was originally considered to be a no goal call, Jason O’Connor squeaked the puck below the pad of McGlynn and past the goal line. The tied contest wouldn’t last for too much longer as Ryan Burns got his second goal of the night thanks to a pass from his defenseman brother, Tyler Burns.
The third saw the Blades really emerge as the favorites. Within the first five minutes of the period, Oakville would score two goals to take the never safe three goal lead. First, it would be a power-play marker by veteran forward Joe Seney following a pass from returning forward Ryan Garvey at the 3:30 minute mark of the period. A minute later, the Rajic-Timleck duo would strike again as the former notched his second pre-season goal since getting promoted from an Affiliated Player last season.
The game was falling apart for the Red Wings. Following a fight between Brian Hurley of the Blades and Anthony Risi of Hamilton, Oakville would add two goals to extend their lead even further with ten minutes to go. First, it would be Joe Mitchell beating the Hamilton defenders to flip the puck top corner and continue the awesome performance from Oakville’s second line. Just over a minute later, Ryan Garvey picked up a loose puck in front of the net to beat the flying Hamilton goaltender with a top shelf shot. The seventh goal would prove to be the final one for the Blades, who finished their first pre-season game with an impressive 7-2 victory.