Chase Clark had a hat-trick last night to lead the Sarnia Legionnaires back to the .500 mark.

Clark's goals, which were his 14^th , 15^th and 16^th of the season, sparked coach Jeff Perry's defending Western Jr. 'B' champions to an convincing 8-2 win over the Lambton Shores Predators.

The victory gives Sarnia a record of 17-17-6, good enough for a share of sixth place in the nine-team Western Conference of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

The Predators put up a valiant fight in the beginning, shocking the crowd of 1,137 with two goals before the five minute mark.

But Clark led the way back with a powerplay goal at 7:08. Standing in the slot, he sent a sizzling drive under the cross bar. Assists went to defenceman Jeff Paulley and Owen Rogers.

Rogers got a goal of his own three minutes later when he slammed home a cross-ice pass to tie the game at 2-2. Helpers went to Jesse Drydak and Josh Teschke.

In the second period a close game was blown wide open by a Legionnaire team that came at the Predators in waves.

The turning point came when Sarnia scored two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill. First Jesse Drydak stole the puck and scored an unassisted breakaway goal. Moments later, Clark finished off a nifty two-on-one break with captain Tyler Cicchini to make it 4-2. Defenceman Anton Zupancic also picked up an assist.

Not long after that, Clark roofed another shot from the slot to make it 5-2. This time the helpers went to Rogers and Zupancic.

Josh Tesche got his eighth of the year before the mid point of the game when he tapped in a loose puck from the side of the net. Defenceman Jordan Leyser and Tanner Tomlinson picked up assists.
 

Tomlinson made it 7-2 before the second period came to a merciful close when he jammed in a rebound with goalie Sean Parker down and out. Cicchini and Andy Sokol were credited with assists.

Parker, who was actually pretty strong in the Predators cage, faced 24 shots in the second period alone. Although he surrendered seven goals in two periods, he made at least that many spectacular saves.

In the final frame Matt Simon took over in the Lambton Shores net. He, too, played a decent game, although Tomlinson beat him with a slapshot to make the final 8-2.

Newcomer Jason Teschke (the younger brother of Josh) got an assist on the last Legionnaire goal.  Jason was called up from the Jr. 'C' Mooretown Flags to replace the injured Shawn Waldie.

• Clark was first star, Owen Rogers was second and Tomlinson third.

• Kyle Washer got the win in net, making 21 saves. Parker and Simon faced a combined total of 66 Sarnia shots.

• Brandon Stewart and Adam Arseneault scored for the visitors.

• Sarnia returns to action Saturday when it playes in Strathroy.