The Sarnia Legionnaires will try to bring their record back up to the .500 mark tonight when they face the formidable Chatham Maroons. Here's a preview of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League game:

WHO – Sarnia Legionnaires (10-11-5) vs. Chatham Maroons (16-8-1)

WHEN – Thursday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE – Sarnia Arena

SIGNIFICANCE – The Legionnaires are trying to get their season back on track after a disastrous five-game losing streak dropped them into sixth place in the league's western conference. They started to turn things around last Sunday in St. Thomas, where they blanked the Stars 3-0. A win tonight would vault them into fifth place, one point ahead of the Vipers.

WHO TO WATCH

 

Sarnia – Forward Jesse Drydak has been on fire of late. He scored twice in St. Thomas and rang a shot off the post. Goalie Jesse Raymond picked up his second shutout of the season in the same game. And defenceman Anthony Donati got his eighth goal in seven games since rejoining the club.

 

Chatham – Brett Hope, a forward who wears No. 89, had two goals and an assist last night as the Maroons crushed the LaSalle Vipers 9-4.

 

TACTICS – Chatham and Sarnia both like to play a defensive game, although the Maroons can be explosive, as they showed last night.

 

INJURIES – Sarnia will be missing two key players. Their top scorer, Chase Clark, and ace playmaker Shawn Waldie are both out with injuries.

OHL FACTOR – Sarnia's Jake Unsworth is back from a one-game stint with the London Knights of the OHL. Unsworth acquitted himself well, ending the game as a 'Plus-One' as London thumped the Kitchener Rangers 5-2. Another Legionnaire, defenceman Anthony Donati, was obtained by the Sarnia Sting yesterday in a trade with the Plymouth Whalers. However, he is expected to remain with the Legionnaires for the time being.

FATIGUE FACTOR – The Maroons played last night in LaSalle in what was a roughhouse contest. There were five fights and a few checking from behind penalties. Sarnia was idle. So the Legionnaires should be a little fresher by the time the third period rolls around.

 

GOALIES – Jesse Raymond is slated to get the start in goal tonight. Chatham's starter has not been announced.

 

HISTORY – The clubs have split the two games they played this year, with each winning 4-3 in the other team's rink. Last year, the Weir Cup champion Legionnaires won five of six meetings between the two.