By Dan McCaffery
Good work by the special teams led the Sarnia Legionnaires to a 3-1
win over the Strathroy Rockets Saturday.
Coach Mark Davis's Jr. 'B' hockey club killed off all 10 shorthanded
situations it faced on its way to the victory. At one point, the
Legion crew survived being two-men short for almost two minutes.
On the other side of the ledger, the Sarnians scored twice with the
man advantage.
Zach Vanderwal got the first marker of the game, whipping home a
rebound from the faceoff circle. P.J. Vandervaart and Derek Johnson
earned assists on the play, which came at the 3:04 mark.
However, Shane Bulitka replied for the home team, sending the club's
into the intermission deadlocked at 1-1.
The score remained that way until early in the third period, when
Ryan Vendramin came out from the side of the net and fired the puck
past Rockets goalie Dane Gubbels. Brock Perry and Brandon Laymen
were credited with assists.
Before the period was five minutes old the Legionnaires struck
again. This time it was Layman who pulled the trigger, blasting home
his 11th of the campaign with a rising shot from the blueline.
Vendramin and Jordan Fogarty had helpers on the play.
Vendramin now has an astonishing 21 points in just 11 games.
Coach Davis said, “Zach Vanderwal, Brendan Shagena and Ethan DuPont
were outstanding. We need those guys playing like that. We need a
team effort.”
He also lavished praise on Jarret Marks and goalie Adian Hughes.
Hughes made 38 saves and allowed few rebounds.
Gubbels faced 35 Legionnaire shots.
The Sarnians return to action next Thursday when they face the
London Nationals. Game time at the Brock Street barn is set for 7:10
p.m.
