By Dan McCaffery
The Chatham Maroons scored
two shorthanded goals in the
third period Sunday to edge
the Sarnia Legionnaires 4-3
in Western Jr. 'B' hockey
action.
With the loss the Sarnians
ended their preseason with a
3-1 won-lost record.
Despite the setback, head
coach Dan Rose was
unconcerned, noting as many
as four players who were not
dressed Sunday in Chatham
could be in the lineup when
the regular season opens
Tuesday.
One of those will be Ryan
Trottier, who was obtained
over the weekend for future
considerations in a deal
with the Lambton Shores
Predators.
Trottier, a draft pick of
the OHL's Barrie Colts, had
29 points in 34 games with
Lambton Shores last season.
“As for Sunday's match, Rose
said, "It was a great game
by our guys, they managed
and passed the puck well.
Chatham got a couple of
bounces.”
He added, “We've got a very
skilled defence. We're not
going to spend a lot of time
in our end. And we know we
can score goals.”
The Legionnaires led for
much of the game.
In fact, Nathan
Mater got them on the board
early, sending a rising
drive home from the slot
after being set up by Jay
Clarke. Not long after that,
rookie rearguard Sam
McCormack found the back of
the net with a shot from the
point.
Michael Verboom cut the lead
in half with a goal early in
the middle stanza. But
flashy defenceman Cameron
Clarke restored Sarnia's two
goal lead when he took a
pass from Jay Clarke, cut
into the middle and sent a
hard wrist shot into the net
from between the faceoff
circles.
Chatham rallied for three
unanswered goals in the
third period, including a
pair of shorthanded markers
14 seconds apart, to steal
the victory.
Verboom got one of the goals
with Brennan Feasey and
Jared Dennis picking up the
other two.
Goalie Hunter Johnson was
strong in Sarnia's net,
kicking out 50 shots. The
Legionnaires fired 39 pucks
at the Chatham cage.
The Sarnians open the
regular season Tuesday when
they host the defending
champion Leamington Flyers.
Game time at the Brock
Street Barn is set for 7:10
p.m.
