The Sarnia Legionnaires will try to snap a four-game losing streak when they host the LaSalle Vipers tonight.

Here's a preview of the contest:

WHO: Sarnia Legionnaires (9-10-5) vs. LaSalle Vipers (11-10-2)

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Sarnia Arena

SIGNIFICANCE – The Legionnaires are in sixth place in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League's western conference, one point behind fifth ranked LaSalle and two back of fourth place St. Marys. A win would vault Sarnia into a tie for fourth, while a loss would put them in danger of tumbling into seventh because the St. Thomas Stars are breathing down their necks.

The standings in the middle of the pack read like this:

St. Marys – 25 points (fourth place)

LaSalle – 24 points (fifth place)

Sarnia – 23 points (sixth place)

St. Thomas – 22 points (seventh place)

LINEUP CHANGES – Two players have quit the Legionnaires. Coach Jeff Perry says rookie Derek Nap and veteran Jordan Black left because they wanted more ice time.

Brett Sauve has been called up from the Mooretown Flags. Sauve is a six-foot, 170 pound right-winger who played nine games with the Legionnaires early in the season, scoring one goal before being dispatched to Mooretown. Last year, in 32 contests with the Lambton Jr. Sting 'AAA' midgets, he blinked the red light nine times and picked up 12 assists.

SUSPENSION – The Legionnaires will also be without defenceman Kyle Flemington tonight. He is sitting out a one-game suspension after being involved in his third fight of the season last Saturday. Tommy Ziolkowski, who sat out Saturday's game against Leamington, will be in the lineup.

 

TACTICS – The Vipers like to play wide open, firewagon hockey, with their defencemen joining the rush at every opportunity. The Legionnaires stress team defence.

 

STARTING GOALIES – Jesse Raymond will get the start in net for Sarnia. There's no word on the starter for the Vipers, although Connor Lyons gets the bulk of their netminding duties.

 

WHOSE HOT:

 

Sarnia – Defencemen Anthony Donati and Tanner Ferguson have both been playing well for Sarnia in recent games. Donati has five goals in his last five games while the 16-year-old Ferguson got his first Jr. 'B' goal Saturday.

 

LaSalle – Randy Baldwin had four goals and an assist for the Vipers last night as they beat the St. Thomas Stars 7-4.

HISTORY – LaSalle has won two of three games between the teams this season. The Vipers won the season opener 6-0 in Sarnia, then posted a 4-2 win at home before dropping a 4-2 decision to the Legionnaires, also in the Essex County town. Last year, the champion Legionnaires won all five meetings.