73’s debut new jerseys on home opener as part of 2024-25 season kick-off

by Garrett Fodor

After kicking-off its season on the road, the Essex 73’s returned home last Tuesday, with a special surprise for fans: debuting a new look for the new season. 

  When the 73’s took to the ice last Tuesday, it began with the all orange practice jerseys. The new orange and black jerseys debuted as the 2024-25 roster was announced one-by-one to the fans, allowing for new players and returning to be greeted with cheers. 

  When the ceremonies were over and the puck was dropped, the game officially kicked-off against the Dresden Jr. Kings, which entered with a 2-0 record. It didn’t take long for the 73’s to give their home fans something to cheer about.

  Just under 90-seconds into the action, the 73’s fans were on their feet as Lazar Dragicevic beat Kings’ goalie, Blake Verbene, to open the scoring. Carter Dembinski doubled the 73’s lead just over one-minute later. Following the second goal, the Kings began to find their footing, and make chances of their own.  

Both Verbene and 73’s goaltender, Sean Shanahan, were tested and made big saves to keep the game 2-0. In the second half of the period, the 73’s broke through the Kings’ defence again. This time, it was Captain Gabe Piccolo who deked out Verbene shorthanded to extend the lead to three.

  Closing out the frame, Dembinski got credit for his second goal of the night, as his shot on net got tipped by Verbene extending it to 4-0 heading into the intermission. Through the opening 20-minutes, the 73’s held a commanding 14-5 lead in shots.

  Coming out of the dressing room for the second period, the 73’s picked up where they left off, continuing to control the puck and generate offensive chances and winning board battles. Six-minutes in, Jayden Seguin made it a 5-0 game. Three-minutes later, overage forward Karson Beuglet extended the lead to 6-0.

  Mackenzie Anderson got the Sharks on the board with eight-minutes remaining in the period.

  Any momentum the Sharks thought they had, however, was taken back just before the end of the second period. That is when Piccolo potted his second of the night, making it 7-1 through 40-minutes for the 73’s. Essex outshot the Kings, 31-8. 

  In the third period, the 73’s continued to stymie the Kings offensively, limiting chances and puck possession. Seth Martineau scored to make it 8-1, for the lone goal of the period. The 73’s prevailed 8-1, lifting the home team to 2-0 on the season, and giving Shanahan his first Junior win. 

  Through its opening two games, the 73’s is getting offence from all of their lines, with 11 players having put up at least a point per game scoring rate. 

  Next up, the 73’s draw the Blenheim Blades on September 24, before a trip to Mooretown on September 28.