CHATHAM -- The Sarnia Legionnaires have been dethroned.

The defending Western Jr. 'B' champions were eliminated from the playoffs here last night by the Chatham Maroons.

Coach Jeff Perry's squad was edged 4-2 in the seventh and deciding game of their Western Ontario Hockey Conference quarter-final series.

"I'm proud of our kids, there's no quit in that group,” Perry said afterward. “Tonight a couple of bounces went Chatham's way. They got a couple of redirections (that deflected into the Sarnia net).”

Perry also felt the loss of workhorse defenceman Anton Zupancic early in the first period was a factor in the outcome. The talented rearguard was hit in the jaw with the puck before the contest was two minutes old and did not return. “Zupancic was a big loss,” the coach said. “He plays 30 minutes a game on the back end for us.”

Despite that setback, the Legionnaires drew first blood when Jesse Drydak got his third of the post season on the powerplay. The marker, which came just before the midpoint of the first frame, was unassisted.

However, Chatham tied it before the stanza ended, then scored three unanswered goals in the second period to jump into a commanding lead.

The Sarnians got back in the game early in the third when Owen Rogers notched his fifth of the playoffs on the powerplay. Drydak and Chase Clark drew assists.

But despite outshooting the Maroons 12-10 over the course of the period, they could get no closer.

"We were pressing but we couldn't get that third goal,” Perry said.

As for his own future, he said he will discuss the situation with team officials and his family before making a decision. “It was a very good experience and I enjoyed it, Perry said. “It's a great ownership group and I had great assistants. Certainly I'll make my decision sooner rather than later.”

Team president Tom Knight congratulated the players for a gallant effort as they came on the bus after the contest. “There's no disappointment,” he said. “None whatever. They had far more depth than us and it could have gone either way.”

The Maroons, who finished third in the regular schedule, 20 points ahead of the sixth place Legionnaires, had their hands full throughout the series. In fact, two of the games were decided in overtime and both teams posted a road win.

The Legionnaires, Knight vowed, will be much stronger next season.

• Chatham outshot Sarnia 39-23. Goalie Jesse Raymond held the Legionnaires in the game with a number of clutch saves. Mike Ostroplec got the win in net for the Maroons.

• Attendance was 1,854, including a large and vocal contingent of Sarnia fans.

• Only two Legionnaires are not eligible to return next season – defenceman Tommy Ziolkowski and forward Joel Steeves.

• The Maroons will now face the LaSalle Vipers in the semi-finals.

• Sarnia outscored Chatham 22-21 over the course of the seven games.