Steele County Blades Rally to Win Home Opener
After spotting the Dells Ducks a 2-0 first period lead, the Steele County Blades junior hockey team rallied for a 3-2 home-opening, overtime win at Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna Saturday night. The game was held in the west rink. The team will celebrate it's grand opening Saturday October 7 at 7:30PM against Wisconsin Rapids in the main, east rink with a Sunday 3PM game to follow.
The Blades capped the comeback with a goal in the opening minute of the extra period with Luukas Kallioinen (Laukaa, Finland) getting an assist from Zach Bettmeng (Sioux Falls, SD). It was the third assist of the night for Bettmeng, who also scored Steele County's only goals in a loss at the Minnesota Moose last weekend.
The Ducks, who eliminated the Blades from the playoffs last season, scored a pair of goals midway through the first period 13 seconds apart for a 2-0 advantage. Kyle Wadden (Des Moines, IA) scored with one minute to go before first intermission. Bettmeng had the lone assist.
The Blades out shot the Ducks 23-6 in the middle frame and scored the evening goal with a minute to go. Cody Arbelovsky (Kenai, AK) got a power play marker with assists to Bettmeng and Wadden. Steele County out shot the Ducks 47-19 on the night. Vinny Capezza (Hammond, WI) earned the win.