LEAMINGTON – The new coach of the Sarnia Legionnaires says cutting down on the team's trips to the penalty box will be one of his goals in the days ahead.

Dan Rose made the comment after watching his Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League club drop a 3-0 decision here Saturday to the Leamington Flyers. Rose felt the Legionnaires played well, whenever they were at equal strength. But the club was shorthanded 10 times, including a few five-on-three situations, over the course of the contest. Rose said that disrupted line combinations and took away team momentum.

In the first period alone the Legionnaires were shorthanded almost six minutes, including more than two minutes when they were down by a pair of skaters. Goalie Mike Reed held Sarnia in the game for 55 minutes, making a total of 33 saves over the course of the evening. But late in the third Leamington sealed the win with a goal that made it 3-0.

Legionnaire notes

* Sarnia had just 17 shots on net.

* Josh Chapman played a strong game on defense. Forward Nathan Mater also looked good.

* After the game, general manager Bob Williamson announced centre Colton Ryz has been released.

* The loss dropped Sarnia four points back of Leamington in the battle for seventh place. The Legionnaires have a game in hand.

* Rose said the club may bring in some new players in coming days. But he added he will give players on the club now a fair chance to show him what they can do.