Sarnia Hockey fans got their money’s worth in an action packed game at the Sarnia arena Thursday night after the Legionnaires came up with a big win over the LaSalle Vipers that was decided in shoot out.
“The momentum changed about 10 times in that game.” Head Coach Dan Rose said “They are a lot better hockey team then I thought they were."
The two teams were tied 6 – 6 after three periods of regulation and one over time period and after LaSalle’s 8th shooter was stopped by Sean Parker Sarnia came away with a 7 – 6 win.
“Personally I didn’t feel I had a great game but it was nice to pull through in the shoot out.” Parker said “That’s the most I ever had and I just treated it like a practice. The pressure get’s more for sure as time goes on, other than that just take it one shot at a time.”
Cody Trowell was the eight shooter for Sarnia who scored the winning goal in the shootout .
“I was pretty pumped to be out there in the shoot out.” Trowell said “I was watching the goalie as each shooter went and studied what he was doing out there. He was poke checking a lot so I figured I kind of give it a little shuffle and shovel it over him.”
LaSalle had opened the scoring just 19 seconds into the game. Bobby King tied things up but then the Vipers added two more goals to take a 3 – 1 lead in the first. Sarnia fought back and scored two quick goals when Jay Clark narrowed the gap and Hunter Tyczynski tied things up as they headed into the second at 3 apiece. In the second Sarnia took a 4 – 3 lead after Josh Kestner scored the single goal in the period.
Third period action saw LaSalle score early once again to tie. Sarnia then went on and took a 6 – 4 lead with Kestner and Nathan Mater scoring. The Vipers battled back and scored twice late in the game that sent the game into over time then shoot out.
"We kept working hard." Rose said "We made some mistakes but the guys kept together and we kept battling hard and obviously as you get into over time there’s a little luck involved but Sean Parker came up huge in the shoot out and that’s his experience showing there. Goalies are key in it and both goalies made some really goods saves.”
The win ended the Vipers win streak (5-1). The Legionnaires are now 3 – 2 with all wins at home.
The Legionnaires are back in action on Thursday September 26 when they host the St. Thomas Stars. Game time is at 7:10 pm at the Sarnia Arena.
