Coach Jeff Perry's GOJHL squad played the much-feared Stratford Cullitons on even terms for 65 minutes before going down to defeat.

With the result, the Sarnians picked up a point that left them tied for third place in the Western Conference with the LaSalle Vipers.

“The shootout has not been very favourable to us,” Perry said afterward. In fact, Sarnia has lost all four games that have gone into extra time so far this campaign.

Nevertheless, the coach saw many positives from the contest.

“The scoring chances in the first period were pretty evenly matched and in the second period we dominated,” he said. In the final frame, both squads had their chances. And in overtime defenceman Kyle Flemington got in close before being denied.

“The goalie made a big save on him,” Perry said.

Captain Tyler Cicchini, with his fifth of the season, scored Sarnia's goal in the third period to force overtime. Cicchini jumped on a turnover in the Stratford zone and ripped a hard drive into the top corner on the glove side. The play went into the books as an unassisted effort.

In the shootout, Chase Clark scored for Sarnia, but Stratford blinked the red light twice, with Craig Dalrymple getting the winner.

“In nine of the 13 games we've taken points out of them,” Perry said. “Still, there's room for us to be better.”

• Stratford is in first place in the Midwestern loop with an impressive 11-2-0 mark.

• Sarnia goalie Kyle Washer kicked out 32 of the 33 pucks he faced. The Legionnaires fired 34 shots on the Stratford net.

• The contest, which was part of the league's annual Thanksgiving Showcase Tournament, was played at St. Catharines.

• The Legionnaires are 5-4-4 on the season.

• The Legionnaires face the London Nationals, who are in first place in the West on Thursday October 15.   Game time at the Sarnia Arena is 7:30 p.m. Perry said the team is using the games against Stratford, London and LaSalle to measure how well the Legionnaires can perform against the league's best clubs.