By Dan McCaffery
special to

Jordan Black isn't accustomed to the role of scoring hero.

In fact, the 5'10, 175 pounder scored just one goal last winter while patrolling the blueline for the Western Ontario Jr. 'B' hockey champion Sarnia Legionnaires.

But when coach Jeff Perry took over the club this year he moved the Northern Collegiate student up to one of the forward lines.

And Black took advantage of his new position Thursday, firing home his first of the year to give the Legionnaires a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 win over the St. Marys Lincolns.

“I went down the side and tried for a shot on net,” Black explained afterward. “I knew Andy Sokol was going to the net and I was hoping to get him a rebound, but it went in low on the catcher side.”

The goal, coming at 11:31 of the third period, stood up as the winner and sent the season-high crowd of 1,306 fans home happy.

“It was nice (to get a game winner),” Black said. “Our line has been working really hard.”

Rookie Derek Nap and veteran defenceman Tommy Ziolkowski drew assists on the play.

St. Marys started the game strong, hemming the Legionnaires in their own end for several minutes after the opening whistle.

Goalie Kyle Washer, who was named the game's first star, held the home team in the contest during the first period, kicking out all 18 shots he faced. For the game as a whole, he turned aside 37 shots. At the other end of the rink, Marc Nother stopped 27 of 30 pucks directed at the Lincolns cage.

In the second stanza Anthony Soboczynski scored a powerplay goal just past the six minute mark to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. But Captain Tyler Cicchini squared matters before the period ended with his fourth goal in four games. Helpers went to Owen Rogers and Kyle Flemington.

Early in the third frame the Legionnaires finally got ahead, after a shot by Jesse Drydak hit a Lincs defender and deflected into the net. Flemington and Chase Clark were credited with assists on what was Drydak's sixth of the season.

Jamie Commerford tied the game with less than nine minutes to go, paving the way for Black's heroics.

The Legionnaires play Stratford next, in a contest that will be held in St. Catharines during the league's annual showcase weekend this Saturday.

“They're supposed to be a good team, so it should be a good test,” Black said.

In fact, Stratford is in first place in the Midwest Conference.

• The Legionnaires have drawn 7,098 fans to six games, for an average of 1,183 per contest. It's by far the best record in the league. Chatham is in second place, with an average of 817 spectators.

• Last night's win gives Sarnia a 5-4-3 record and leaves them in third place in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League's Western Conference, one point behind the Strathroy Rockets and one ahead of the LaSalle Vipers. But the Legionnaires have played more games than either of those clubs.

• Sarnia's next home came will be Thursday, Oct. 15 when they play the first place London Nationals. The Legionnaires defeated the Nats in the WOHC final last April to win the Weir Cup.

• Drydak was awarded a penalty shot with 19 seconds left on the clock after Nother threw his stick as the Sarnia forward swooped in on a breakaway. He failed to score.

• In a gusty move, Lincs coach Merlin Malinowski left his goalie on the bench with 19 seconds left and the faceoff beside his own net. The Legionnaires scored into the empty cage but the puck crossed the red line just after time expired.