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In the end, it just wasn't meant to be.
That's how Sarnia Legionnaires coach Dan Rose summed
up his team's 6-5 overtime loss to the London
Nationals Thursday.
The setback, which came before more than 1,000 fans
at the Brock Street Barn, eliminated the home team
from the Western Ontario Hockey Conference
quarterfinals in four straight games. Three of the
contests were decided in overtime.
London was undoubtedly the better club, but the Nats
had more than their share of good luck. In Game One,
for example, they tied the match with less than two
minutes to go on a fluke goal that bounced in off a
Sarnia defender's skate with no Londoner within 20
feet of the Legionnaires cage.
Last night, a harmless looking shot from a bad angle
eluded goalie Kyle Washer in the fourth period to
decide the issue.
Shortly before that happened, Captain Tyler Cicchini
got in alone and shot wide.
In regulation time, Sarnia missed on three
breakaways, including one in which Jesse Drydak hit
the post.
Overall, Sarnia outshot London 40-29.
Next
year
Rose said he hopes to return as head coach next
fall.
 As
for the team's prospects, Rose said, “We only lose
three 20-year-olds and we may lose some to Major
'A.' But there's a ton of local talent right now.
There are some in Mooretown (with the Jr. 'C' Flags)
and in midget hockey.”
Rose said he told his players he was proud of the
way they went down battling.
In fact, Sarnia stormed into a 4-1 lead at the end
of the first frame, thanks to goals by Brent Sauve,
Steve Farlow, Captain Tyler Cicchini and Andy Sokol.
Nathan Mater made it 5-3 in the third frame, but
London got two late goals, including one on a
powerplay and another with the goalie pulled for a
sixth attacker, to force OT.
Game notes:
* Jeff Schroeter and Shawn Waldie had two assists
each for Sarnia. Other helpers went to Jeff Paulley,
Brent Sauve, Josh Chapman, Brent Sullivan, Drydak
and Cicchini.
* The Nationals appeared to be trying to draw
penalties throughout the series by writhing around
on the ice after virtualy every hard body check.
Many of their performances rivalled any death scene
you'll ever see in a Shakespeare play.
* Legionnaires who played their last junior hockey
game Thursday included Sullivan, Tanner Tomlinson
and Owen Rogers. Rogers, a fan favourite, played
four seasons with the club and was a key cog with
the Legionnaire team that won the 2009 championship.
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