The Sarnia Sting Major Bantam’s travelled to Cambridge last Saturday to take on the league’s top team in the Cambridge Hawks. Sarnia was making the travel with many sick bodies and some suspensions in the line-up and it proved to be too much. The Sting came out hard right on the opening shift as they had two great scoring opportunities to open the scoring but missed on both chances only to have the puck come back the other way and with a quick toe-drag move by the Hawks forward around the Sting defenseman got a shot off while falling to the ground only to have the puck go through the Sting net minders legs to give the Hawks a quick 1-0 lead.

Sarnia would have some scoring chances again but couldn’t find the back of the net as mid-way through the first period the Hawks would go up 2-0 as the Sting couldn’t clear away the loose puck in front of the net. Second period action the Sting were still struggling as the Hawks would again increase their lead to 3-0 on another goal mouth scramble that the Sting were unable to clear again. With just under thirty seconds left in the second period the Sting were finally able to get on the scoreboard as Jeffrey Williams would put a low shot right inside the post cutting the lead to 3-1 at the end of the second with Devin Butler picking up the assist.

Third period action the score remained at 3-1 but just like the previous goals the Sting once again were outmuscled in the crease and the Hawks would go up 4-1. Sarnia was quick to respond just thirty three seconds later as Trent Duncan would beat the Hawks goaltender with a high wrist shot bringing the Sting back to within two goals at 4-2 with Kyle Adams picking up the assist on the play. With just two minutes left in the game the Hawks would seal the game with a 5-2 goal, Sarnia would get a penalty on the play and would leave the Hawks with a power play opportunity to end the game and they would add to their total with another goal and a 6-2 victory.

Game two in the series was back in Sarnia where the Sting rarely loses a game. With many kids still fighting sickness and two key players serving their final game suspension some were not sure how this would turn out after the two teams met the night before and the result from that matchup. Sarnia came out hard from the puck drop but some big saves by the Hawks goaltender was able to keep the game scoreless after the first period.

Second period action the Sting once again controlled the game and had several point blank scoring opportunities but again the Hawks goaltender was hot and the Sting were unable to get anything past him. When the second period came to a close, Sarnia was stunned at how they had easily out played their opponents and out shot them but were still losing 2-0.

Third period action the Sting came out hard again and pressured the Hawks. Sarnia new that the next goal was very crucial in the game, finally Drew Morgan would put the Sting on the board with a quick one timer from the slot between the goaltenders legs cutting the Hawks lead to 2-1 with Devin Butler and Jeffrey Williams picking up the assists. The Sting continued to pressure the Hawks but just couldn’t find the back of the net. With just over two minutes left in the game the Sting would take an undisciplined penalty giving the Hawks another late game power play. With the Sting killing the penalty they were able to pull the goalie and send out an extra player to try and tie the game up but the Hawks were able to score into the empty net right at the buzzer giving Cambridge the 3-1 win.

Cambridge now leads the first to six point semi-final series with a commanding 4pts to 0pts lead over the Sting. Sarnia has now dug themselves a big hole and will need to win all three of the remaining games in consecutive days to pull off the comeback. This is a tall order against a team who has only lost 5 league games all season. Sarnia is up for the challenge and have been preparing hard all week. Sarnia will travel to Cambridge Friday night for game three, if Sarnia can pull off the victory this will bring the Hawks back to Sarnia for a game four Sat March 10th at 4:30pm @ Sarnia Arena. Game 5 if needed will be back in Cambridge on Sunday.