Sarnia, ON -
Leading with three powerplay goals in the second
period, the Sarnia Legionnaires opened their 2011
preseason against the Strathroy Rockets with a 4-0
victory, with all four goals coming in the second
period.
Braden
Palocz started the game for Sarnia, while Kyle
Washer finished it up and completed the shutout.
Sarnia
gained momentum after the first, as the Legionnaires
killed off a 4 minute powerplay at the end of the
first, only to come out in the second and score 44
seconds into the period. Tyler Cicchini picked up a
Michael Gray rebound, and chipped it over the
shoulder of Rockets goalie Dalen Kuchmey to make it
1-0.
Sarnia
would make it 2-0 on their second powerplay of the
period, as Adam Lane would win the faceoff back to
Jeff Paulley, who set up Kyle Constantine for a one
timer that beat Kuchmey. Strathroy would make a
goalie changed midway through the period, putting in
Jack Moylan, but the first shot he faced soon after
entering the net was a Cody Schmidt laser that went
just under the crossbar to make it 3-0.
Before the
period ended, Sarnia would tally in one more goal,
as Chad Beauchamp's shot from the point would go off
the end boards and come out to a Ilya Arkalov who
put it into the open net, giving the Legionnaires a
comfortable lead heading into the third.
"I was
really impressed," said Head Coach Dan Rose. "There
was a great group of kids out there and they worked
really really hard. There wasn't a kid on the ice
for us that didn't show us something that they could
do. They competed hard, there were good plays made,
we're really excited."
Rose
called the speed and competition of his team a
pleasure to watch, as the Legionnaires controlled
the action, and cut off entry to the net, making it
easier for Palocz and Washer to make saves.
Sarnia's
performance also showcased a more disciplined
Legionnaires. A team that draws penalties and
capitalizes on them rather then taking them. Sarnia
ranked second in the Western Conference in penalty
minutes last year with 1222minutes, and were giving
up a powerplay goal a game, only killing off 75% of
their penalties. Tonight, the Legionnaires were 3
for 3 on the penalty kill, and 3 for 8 on the
powerplay
"We'll be
way more disciplined and our powerplay will be
better," said Rose. " The kids are a year older, and
their a year more mature so they don't panic. Kids
like Matt Cimetta, they're 16 years old but they're
skilled. And once you have skill on your powerplay
and patience, [scoring] is what happens."
Sarnia
played without two big offensive threats in Jesse
Drydak and Jason Teschke. Despite them not in the
line up, Rose says it was fun to watch kids do well.
Sarnia
will take on the Rockets again in Strathroy on
Saturday, August 27th before playing a home and home
with London.
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