By Dan McCaffery

Sarnia Legionnaires
 

The Sarnia Legionnaires hope to break out of their Jekyll-and- Hyde routine this week when they play a pair of important games.

The defending Western Jr. 'B' champions have been puttering along at a .500 pace since the season began.
 

This Thursday the Legionnaires (3-2-3) play the Strathroy Rockets (4-1-0) at home. on Friday they travel to Forest to play the Lambton Shores Predators.
 

Here's a look at the match-up with the Rockets:
 

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 1. 7:30 p.m.  WHERE: Sarnia Arena.
 

LAST OUTINGS: The Legionnaires lost 2-1 in overtime Saturday in Wheatfield. Despite the setback, Sarnia has picked up seven points in its last four games. Strathroy crushed Niagara Falls 6-2 in its last game.
 

WHOSE HOT:
Sarnia: Goalie Kyle Washer has allowed only two regulation goals in his last two games. Defenceman Josh Cornelissen scored his first of the season on the weekend. Cornelissen was the top scoring blueliner in the Western Conference of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League last winter.
 

Strathroy: Walter Easter, who wears No. 23, has five goals and six assists for 11 points in just five games. The six-foot right-winger was a 20-goal man last year.
 

SIGNIFICANCE: The young Rockets are off to an unexpectedly fast start. Their wins have been huge. In addition to the thumping they gave to Niagara Falls, the Rockets crushed St. Marys 7-2 and thrashed Leamington 8-1. If Sarnia is to keep pace with them, they're going to have to beat them in head-to-head confrontations, especially at home.
 

STATS: Sarnia's powerplay is clicking at 13 per cent, while its penalty killers have been effective 79.6 per cent of the time. Strathroy has been deadly with the extra man. In fact, their success rate of 35.7 per cent is the best in the league. On the PK they have been good 84.6 per cent of the time.
 

HISTORY: The Legionnaires won four of six meetings between the clubs last season, then eliminated the Rockets in seven games in the second round of the playoffs.