The Lambton Jr. Sting Minor Midgets AAA ended their regular season with a win and a loss that earned the team second place in the West Division of the Alliance Hockey League.

On Friday the Jr. Sting traveled to Essex to take on the Sun County Panthers and were defeated in a close 3 - 2 game.

The Jr. Sting fell behind 2 - 0 and battled back and tied it up with five minutes remaining to make it 2 - 2.  With just under four minutes remaining the Jr. Sting took a penalty and the Panthers capitalized and held on for the win.

Alex Dekoning scored the first goal for the Jr. Sting with Brook Perry and Franco Sproviero assisting.  Second goal was scored by Marco Mini from David Norris and Eric Marsh. 

"Unfortunately we took an undisciplined penalty and it resulted in Sun County scoring on that power play." said Head Coach Jeff Perry "Hopefully it was a lesson for our group.  Untimely penalties can be costly.  The good part is that we were able to respond the very next day and come back with a solid effort."

With one game remaining in regular season the team needed the win to secure the second spot and a bye in the first round of playoffs.

 It was another road game on Saturday to Komoka against the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs and the Jr. Sting won with a final score of 3 - 1.

"I thought we were certainly prepared to play." Perry said "They knew the significance of the game in that there were still a bunch of teams still in the hunt for second place which is a bye in the first round so we knew we needed the two points to make sure that it kept things in our control."

Lambton went up 2 - 0 after the first period of play.  Curtis Helps from Tanner Harris scored the first goal and Matthew Stevens assisted by Dawson Cook and Tyler Hourie scored the second.

In period two Elgin scored the loan goal and in the third Alec Dekoning scored an unassisted goal to secured the win.

The Jr Sting's record for the season is 14-13-5 for a total of 33 points.  Chatham-Kent Cyclones were on their heals and current sit in third with a record of 12-12-7 for 31 points and one game back.  A win in their final game would tie them with Lambton, however Lambton won the head to head series with a record of 2-1-1 over Chatham that gives Lambton the edge.  Sun County is currently sitting in 4th with 30 points, Elgin Middlesex has 29 points with one game remaining and Windsor Spitfires is in 6th with 29 points.  London Jr. Knights leads the league with 47 points with one game remaining.

"We have been tight in standings in the past but not where five teams are so close.  It's good for the league and it means that every game you play is competitive game that's for sure."

With the second place finish and a bye in the first playoff round the Jr. Sting will continue to practice and play exhibition games.  The first exhibition game will be on Tuesday January 14 against Little Caesars.  The game will be played at the RBC Centre at 7:30 pm.