The Sarnia Legionnaires knocked off one of the best Jr. 'B' teams in Western Ontario last night.

Coach Jeff Perry's squad defeated the Chatham Maroons 4-3 in a heart-stopping battle that came before 1,170 fans at the Brock Street Barn.

Going into the contest, the Kent County club was in third place in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League's western conference with a record of 16-8-1.

Perry had high praise for Sarnia goalie Jesse Raymond and Maroons netminder Mike Ostropolec, saying both were outstanding.

Tanner Tomlinson scored a goal and had two assists for the winners, while single goals went to Jesse Drydak, Joel Steeves and Anthony Donati.

For the amazing Donati, it was his ninth goal in just eight games since rejoining the Legionnaires. The single-season record for goals by a Sarnia Jr. 'B' defenceman is 19, set by Nick Rolls in 2005.

The victory was the second straight for the Legionnaires and it brought them back up to the .500 mark (11-11-5 record).

The two points also leapfrogged them over the LaSalle Vipers into sole position of fifth place in the western conference.

The Sarnians are now just four points back of the fourth ranked St. Marys Lincolns, whom the Legionnaires play tonight in the Stone Town.

Sanria jumped out to a quick lead when Tomlinson passed from behind the net to Joel Steeves, who scored his 10^th of the season from the lip of the crease. Captain Tyler Cicchini also drew an assist on the play, which came with the game less than 90 seconds old.

Donati scored with a low drive from the point to make it 2-0 a few minutes later. Tomlinson and Jesse Drydak were credited with helpers.

After Chatham moved to within one goal Drydak sent home a seeing-eye-goal from the side of the net, driving goalie Trevor Sattelmeier from the Maroons cage in the process. Andy Sokol got the lone assist.

Ostropolec took over after that and was sensational between the pipes for the rest of the contest.

Just past the mid-point of the second frame Tomlinson netted the winner when he came charging across the blueline and sent a wrist shot under the crossbar.

Steeves and Anton Zupancic got assists.

Chatham scored the game's last two goals to set up a thrilling finish.

In the final five minutes of the third period the Legionnaires just missed scoring four goals, three of them while they were killing a penalty. Owen Rogers was especially effective in helping his club protect the lead.

• Shots on goal were 37 apiece. Jesse Raymond got the win in goal for Sarnia, while Mike Ostropolec took the loss, despite the fact that he stopped all but one of the 29 pucks he faced.

• Sokol scored into an empty Chatham net a fraction of a second after time had expired.

• Tomlinson was first star, Owen Rogers was second and Raymond third.