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 The
Sarnia Legionnaires continued their domination over
the powerful London Nationals last night.
Coach Dan Rose's Western Ontario Hockey Conference
club edged the Nats 4-3 in a shootout played before
more than 1,100 excited fans at the Brock Street
Barn.
The win was the Legion crew's third in four meetings
with the Forest City squad. And because London's
only win came in overtime, eighth place Sarnia has
now picked up seven of a possible eight points
against second ranked London.
Behind the eight ball
Sarnia got into trouble early in this one when
goalie Kyle Washer came out of his net and gave the
puck away to London forward Dan Cameron, who
promptly scored a shorthanded goal into the empty
cage.
London widened its lead to 2-0 on a powerplay of its
own, putting the Legionnaires in a big hole.
But captain Tyler Cicchini scored his 11th of the
season to start the comeback, blasting in a pass
from Brent Sullivan.
Roughhouse action
At times the game was incredibly intense, with each
team having two players ejected (one each for
fighting and one each for checking from behind).
Sarnia defenceman Thomas Moxley took a fighting
major, while Andy Sokol got five minutes for
checking from behind. His victim writhed on the ice
in apparent agony, but made a miraculous recovery
after Sarnia was assessed a major.
In the second period Jesse Drydak tied the game with
a backhander from the side of the net. Drydak now
has 29 goals on the campaign.
But London took the lead again before the frame
ended.
Dramatic finish
Early in the third period, rookie Nathan Mater
notched his 12th of the year with a redirect from
the top of the cease. Helpers went to Cicchini and
Shawn Waldie.
After overtime failed to produce a winner, the teams
went to the shootout, with both sides scoring twice
on their first three shots.
Sullivan and Tanner Tomlinson lit the lamp for
Sarnia to keep the breakway competition going.
Finally, in the seventh round, Waldie deked goalie
Mike Coulter out of position and backhanded home the
winner.
Washer, who made 45 saves, was credited with his
17th win of the season, against just eight losses.
Sarnia fired 51 pucks on Coulter.
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