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With a
season-high crowd of more than 1,600 looking on, the
Sarnia Legionnaires clubbed the Leamington Flyers
6-3 Saturday night.
Captain Tyler Cicchini paced the home team to the
win with two goals. And he just missed his
hat-trick, ringing another shot off the crossbar.
Afterward, Cicchini said the team is hitting its
stride just at the right time, with the playoffs
looming. “We've lost only one of our last six
games,” he said. “And Leamington is one of the
hottest teams right now.”
In fact, the Flyers were on a three-game winning
streak when their bus rolled up to the Brock Street
Barn.
The game capped off "Hockey Day in Sarnia"
celebrations that were organized by the Legionnaires
and the Sarnia Hockey Association.
As part of those festivities, Legionnaire players
helped coach minor hockey teams throughout much of
the day.
Cicchini said it was a task the players loved. “The
majority of our players come from (Sarnia minor
hockey teams) so it was good to give back to the
kids.”
Youngters wearing their team jerseys were admitted
free, which helped swell the crowd considerable. And
many of them could be overheard pointing out to
friends and parents and Legionnaires who had been on
their bench earlier in the day.
Other Sarnia goal scorers included Jeff Schroeter,
Nathan Mater, Josh Chapman and Brent Sauve.
Sauve scored a dazzling goal on a penalty shot,
faking the goalie out of position before depositing
the puck into the cage behind him.
"Sauve earned it,” Sarnia coach Dan Rose said
afterward. “He had a great shift.”
He also had words of praise for Shawn Waldie,
saying, “He played a great game.”
Goalie Kyle Washer picked up his 18th win against
just nine losses, making 25 saves in the process.
The Legionnaires, meanwhile, had 38 shots on net.
It was a hard hitting affair, with the Flyers
appearing to be looking for trouble after the score
got out of reach.
Sarnia scoring ace Jesse Drydak was involved in a
third period fight. He got in a number of punches
early, but the battle ended in what looked like a
draw.
The game itself was close much of the way, with the
Legionnaires leading 2-1 after the first period and
4-2 at the end of the middle frame.
Game notes:
- Ten assists were awarded to Sarnia players, with
Drydak picking up three and Owen Rogers, and Andy
Sokol two apiece. Single helpers went to Schroeter,
Brent Sullivan, and Mater.
- Brett Thompson failed to get on the scoreboard but
his strong play earned him third star status.
Cicchini was first star and Drydak second.
- Sullivan now has seven points in seven games since
joining the Legionnaires, including two goals and
five assists.
- Washer is closing in on a milestone of his own. He
needs 50 more saves this season to bring his total
for the year up to 1,000. Over the course of his Jr.
'B' career, he has blocked 2,200 pucks.
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