THIRD PERIOD FLURRY KEEPS BLADES ALIVE AT 2008 RBC CUP

CORNWALL, Ont. – Jeremy Welsh scored twice, completing his hat trick, and Lindsay Sparks added the eventual game-winning goal in a third-period comeback as the Oakville Blades kept their semifinal hopes alive at the 2008 RBC Cup with a wild 7-5 win over the Humboldt Broncos on Wednesday afternoon.

The victory means Oakville and Humboldt are even in the standings as 1-2, with one game to go for each. The Blades will face the Camrose Kodiaks on Thursday night, while the Broncos take on the Pictou County Crushers in Thursday’s matinee. Oakville needs a win over the Kodiaks or a loss by the Broncos to lock up a semifinal spot.

Geoff Guimond added two goals and Dustin Alcock scored once for the Blades, who earned their first-ever win at the National Junior A Championship in their first appearance. Guimond finished with three points, while Sparks had an assist to go along with his game-winner.

Matthew Kirzinger scored twice to pace the Humboldt offence, which also got goals from Dane Lindskog, Scott Schroeder, Brady Wacker and Tanner Van De Sype. Kirzinger added two assists, while Lindskog, Wacker and Van De Sype had a goal and an assist each for the Broncos, who dropped their second game in a row.

Guimond and Kirzinger picked up Player of the Game honours for their respective teams.