BRANTFORD ‑ The Brantford Blast are looking towards extending their five game winning streak to seven when they take on the Thorold Athletics on Friday night at the Brantford and District Civic Centre at 7:30 pm., before returning the favour in St. Kitts Saturday night.
The five-game streak has moved them to within six points of Stoney Creek and Whitby each with 42 points and both tied for first, with a game in hand on both teams. After a checkered start to the season, the Blast has been playing very solid over the last three weeks and are looking more confident with every win.
Over the course of the past five wins, they’ve scored 26 goals while allowing a stingy 11. Their league-best special teams continue to dominate. Over the course of the winning streak they’re striking at a 31.5 per cent rate on the power play and a 93.3 per cent rate on the penalty kill.
“We’re hot on the heels of Stoney Creek and Whitby right now with six games to go,” said Blast Owner/GM Peter Ham. “Every game is critical and feels like a must-win from here on out. We’re feeling very confident from the really nice roll we’re on, so we’ll look forward to keeping it going this weekend with two big games against the Athletics.”
Six Nations’ Cameron Sault has earned points in three straight games (one goal, six assists). Brantford’s Derek Medeiros is tied for the fifth spot in the league scoring race with 18 goals, 11 assists for 29 points in 18 games, and Joel Prpic is tied for the eighth with six goals, 20 assists for 26 points in 12 games. Medeiros is the league’s second best goal scorer, behind Stoney Creek’s Mike Ruberto, who has 20 goals.
Brantford continues to pace the league in Special Teams. They have the number one ranked power play, striking at a 26.47 per cent rate with 18 goals on 68 chances. Their penalty kill is also best in the league with 9 goals allowed on 60 chances – an 85 per cent success rate. Thorold sits fourth in the league in terms of power play with an 18.18 per cent rate, and third in penalty kill with a success rate of 82.67 per cent.
The Blast are expecting a full lineup on Friday night. Leggat is the expected starting goaltender after a 38 save shutout last weekend against Dundas.
