If the Sarnia Sting ever needed a
break, now is the time.
The Sting dropped a 2-1 decision to
the Brampton Battalion Saturday
night before 2,848 fans at the RBC
Centre.
Sarnia has now lost five straight
games in the Ontario Hockey League
to see their overall record drop
nine games under the .500 mark at
13-22-1-1.
After a lengthy post-game meeting
with head coach Dave MacQueen, the
players departed for their homes to
celebrate Christmas. Their next
game is not until December 29th
when they host the Plymouth Whalers.
MacQueen talked about what he said
to the players after the game.
“I told them to go home and take
some time to reflect on their
individual performances over the
first half of the season. I told
them to take a break and not to go
into any rinks. I told them if they
wanted to ride the bikes or go for a
run that’s fine. This is a time to
visit family and friends and to rest
their bodies and their minds.”
He added “We’ve had a tough
schedule over the last month. We’ve
had some stinkers, but we have also
played some good games. I want them
to come back ready to make a
difference in what they can do to
make us a better team in the second
half.”
MacQueen admits this five-game
losing streak has been frustrating.
“In two of the games against Erie
and Sault Ste. Marie we were the
better team and deserved a better
fate. In the other games we just
couldn’t score. I feel bad for the
players because generally they have
competed hard, but have not been
rewarded for their efforts.”
As for the game with Brampton, the
teams were tied 1-1 after the first
period while the Battalion led 2-1
after the second.
“You saw the results of playing
three games in three nights. You
also saw two offensively challenged
teams. When we did finally picked
things up in the third period their
goalie stands on his head.”
Sarnia opened the scoring 11 minutes
into the game on their first shot as
Brandon Alderson tipped home a
perfect goalmouth pass from Kale
Kerbashian.
For Alderson, it was his 10th
goal on the season, second only to
Kerbashian’s 12 goals.
“When I came to training camp and
then made the team, I never dreamed
I would get 10 goals by Christmas,”
said Alderson. “I just wanted to
make the team.”
He says he’s learned a lot so far.
“At this level everything is done at
a faster pace. The practices are
harder and I learned you have to
play hard every shift.”
Brampton tied the game four minutes
later when Matt Clark’s slapshot
from the right point went off the
post and past Sting goalie Shayne
Campbell.
The winning goal came at 16:23 of
the second period when Sam Carrick
scored from close range. Referee
T.J. Luxmore first waived off the
goal as the net came off, but after
video review, Luxmore changed his
mind and allowed the goal to stand.
Sarnia had only nine shots on goal
over two periods. They outshot
Brampton 13-5 in period three and
had some good scoring chances, but
Battalion goalie Patrick Killeen
closed the door.
Sarnia held a 22-17 edge in shots on
goal. Campbell made his first start
in goal for the Sting since Nov. 28th.
Brampton was two-for-six in the
power play while Sarnia was
zero-for-six.
Sting captain Jordan Hill said you
can’t play only 20 minutes and
expect to win.
“Both teams came out slow. We picked
it up in the third period, but we
didn’t get the win and that’s
disappointing. We have to learn how
to play a full 60 minutes.”
- Carrick
was first star with Clark second
star and Alderson third star.
- The
Sting played two players under the
limit of 20 as Craig Hottot, Daniel
Broussard, Anthony Donati and Ben
O’Quinn are all out with injuries.
- Sarnia
will lose forward Brett Ritchie for
three games, as he will compete for
Team Ontario and the world under-17
championships.
- At
Sarnia’s next home game against
Plymouth on
Tue. Dec. 29, children 12 and under
will be admitted for only $5.
- Sarnia
is 7-10-1-0 on home ice while
Brampton improved to 7-7-0-2.
- Sarnia
has scored only two or fewer goals
over they’re past seven games.
