#15 Jordan Fogarty was assisted by #11 Riley Babkirk on the Legionnaires first goal.

 

Playing in their fifth game in eight days the Legionnaires finished strong on Thursday night after coming from behind to take their ninth straight win  defeating the Strathroy Rockets 3 - 2.

 

"That was exciting we did not play bad tonight." Head Coach Dan Rose said. "I think we were a little bit flat tonight after last nights game.  It was close to 12:30 by the time we got home from Laselle last night."

 

Jordan Fogarty opened the scoring just 1:53 into the first period with Riley Babkirk assisting.  The Legionnaires held on to that one goal lead until the 16:18 mark into the second when Strathroy scored a power play goal by Sam Vokes. 

 

"We hit about four post in the first period and a half and we should have been up more but unfortunately we weren't and we were into a hockey game." Rose said

 

Many missed goal opportunities as Prong tings one off the post.

 

The score remained tied until Vokes scored his second power play goal for Strathroy to give the Rockets a 2 - 1 lead. 

 

In the third period the arena went quiet as the clock continue to wind down until Riley Babkirk brought life back into the barn scoring at 17:26, then the place erupted :08 seconds later Nathan Mater scored to give the Legionnaires the lead.  Jordan Fogarty assisted on Babkirks goal and Riley Roberts and Bobby King earned assists on Maters.

 

Captain Nathan Mater scored winning goal

 

"I predicted before the game that happens." Rose said "That we are not going to win every game that sometimes you end up in a 2 - 1 hockey game and that's exactly where we were. But our leadership showed because Riley Babkirk just absolutely out worked them for the tying goal and Nathan Mater second later.  He just show why he is the captain as he just went down and drove by everybody and took it to the net and scored."

 

As time was running out the Strathroy goalie was skating to the bench to give the Rockets the extra man advantage and it appeared that the Legionnaires would take a two goal lead as they dumped the puck into the empty net.  However the play was called back as Strathroy was being called for two many men on the ice.

"The referee had already started to count the players and he should have blown it down before that and he was just a little bit delayed." Rose said "He said he is a little bit rusty too and he was a little bit delayed as they had already touched the puck and there was six men on the ice so he should have blown the whistle a little sooner, so that was his explanation on it and I'm fine with that."

 

Despite the confusion the Legionnaires held on and celebration broke out as regulation time ended giving the Legionnaires win number nine.

 

"We hung in there for the third period." Captain Nathan Mater said after the game. "I mean five minutes to go and they are up by one and we tied it up.   Strathroy obviously were prepared to play tonight and we weren't as ready out of our gates but we finished the game well."

 

Netminder Cornel Felder earning his fourth win of the season
 

 

Sarnia outshot Strathroy 40 - 31.  Sarnia took a total of ten minutes on five penalties, Strathroy took six minutes on three.   Sarnia went zero for three on the power play opportunities. Strathroy scored twice on five.

 

Cornel Felder earned the win in net made 29 saves, Tynan Lauziere made 37 saves for the Rockets.

 

Nathan Mater was named first star of the night, Riley Babkirk second and third went to Jordan Fogarty.

 

The Legionnaires are now the only team in their Division and the rest of the Greater Ontario Hockey League that have gone undefeated.

 

The Legionnaires will now have a well deserve rest and return to action next Thursday Oct 9th when they look to continue their win streak at home when they host LaSalle Vipers at the Sarnia Arena at 7:10 pm.