By Dan McCaffery
The Sarnia Legionnaires lost
an extremely frustrating
game Friday, falling 4-3 to
the St. Thomas Stars.
Sarnia had two goals
disallowed, hit two
crossbars and was assessed
twice as many penalties as
St. Thomas.
The outcome tied the
best-of-seven Western Jr.
'B' hockey quarterfinal
series at one game each.
Hunter Tycynski gave the
Legionnaires the lead with a
first period breakaway goal,
with assists going to Nathan
Mater and Tyler Longo.
But St. Thomas's Dane
Johnstone tied the game
after two Sarnians were sent
off at the same time.
In the middle frame Sam
McCormack joined the rush
and rifled home a shot from
between the faceoff circles.
Ryan Trottier and Davis
Boyer got helpers on the
play.
Two consecutive Sarnia goals
were disallowed after that,
including one in which the
puck appeared to have
entered the net before it
was dislodged. On the other,
the tally was called back
and Sarnia was handed a
goaltender interference
penalty.
After that, Sarnia's parade
to the penalty box continued
and the Stars picked up two
powerplay markers to take a
3-2 lead. One was credited
to Johnstone and the other
to Andrew Chambers.
In the final frame James
Newland scored the only St.
Thomas goal that did not
come with his club enjoying
a man advantage.
Cameron Clarke closed out
the scoring after being set
up by Trottier and Tyler
Prong.
Andrew Masters took the
loss, although he made 31
saves.
Branden Palasek got the win,
kicking out 25 Sarnia
drives.
Game Three goes Sunday at
the Brock Street barn with
the puck drop set for 7:10
p.m.
