Steele County Blades Open 2017 in New England Showcase

The Steele County Blades junior hockey team returned from the holiday break with a trip to New England to play in a showcase event. Friday they beat the Junior Islanders 7-5.

Chase Lewis had two goals and two assists. Kyle Wadden had a pair of goals. Zach Bettmeng and Colton Sprenger had three assists apiece. Tim Grounds got the win in goal. The Blades will play three more games in New England before hitting the ice at Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna on Wednesday, January 11. It will be their first home game since Thanksgiving weekend.

Brett Peer of Reston, Va., recently joined the Blades after playing out east. This weekend his family gets to see him play in the New England showcase. Peer's hockey career had an interruption when he suffered a back injury that left him immobile for a time. He spoke with KRFO radio about what it took to make a comeback.

Zach Bettmeng is from Sioux Falls, S.D., and played in Wisconsin before landing with the Iowa Wild AAA program in Des Moines, which led to the chance to play with the Blades. He says the team has warmly welcomed him, easing the transition to a new place. Bettmeng fell in love with hockey after attending Sioux Falls Stampede USHL games.

The Blades have several special corporate nights coming up. Saturday, January 21, is I Wealth night. Kaplan family night is Tuesday, January 24. Federated Mutual Insurance Stick it to Cancer night is Friday, February 3. The Blades and Jostens will host Hearts and Hockey on Saturday, February 18.