WINDSOR –  The Sarnia Sting put forth another solid effort, but it wasn’t enough against the number one team in Canada.
The Windsor Spitfires defeated the Sting 4-1, Sunday afternoon before 6,296 fans at the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre in Ontario Hockey League action.

The teams met for the second time in less than 24 hours and once again the Sting gave the defending Memorial Cup champs all they could handle and then some.

Windsor took a 2-1 lead after the first period and the score stayed that way until late in the third period when the Spitfires scored two late goals.

“Again,we are within three minutes of holding the number one team in Canada to a 2-1 game,” said Sting head coach Dave MacQueen. “I liked the way we played in the third period. We generated lots of chances. Zac (MacQueen) and Brandon (Francisco) were both alone in front of the net and the puck bounced over their sticks. We had some real good entries into their end, but we couldn’t bury our chances.”

He added, “(Shayne) Campbell gave us a chance to win. He gave another solid effort in goal. We battled tooth and nail. I’m proud of the way the guys played.”

Sarnia opened the scoring at 7:47 of period one when Brent Sullivan scored his second goal of the season. He fired a wrist shot from a sharp angle that somehow got past Spitfires goalie Philipp Grubauer.

The Spitfires rebounded with a pair of goals 45 seconds apart. Ryan Ellis tied the game on the power play drilling home a low slapshot from the right point while Eric Wellwood put the Spitfires ahead when he deflected home a point shot.

Windsor went ahead 3-1 at 17:19 of period three on the power play when Wellwood notched his second goal of the game while Adam Wallace added Windsor’s fourth goal with 49.3 seconds remaining.

Windsor held a 47-23 edge in shots on goal.

The game was the second for newly acquired defenceman Kyle Flemington. He came to the Sting Saturday from Saginaw in the Jordan Hill trade.

“I was pretty surprised when the assistant coach of the Spirit called me and said I was traded to Sarnia,” said Flemington. “My agent and I have been trying to get a trade done all season. I’m happy about it.”

He added, “Saginaw has some young defencemen and they really didn’t give me much of a shot. Sarnia is giving me the opportunity to play on a regular basis. I want to be a physical player, be a stay at home defenceman and protect my teammates.”

MacQueen likes Flemington’s upside.

“He’s green, but I like his size, his strength and his reach. I see him when he is 18 and 19 being a pretty intimidating force. We are going to work with him and I think he can be a regular part if our blue line.”

Flemington, who played with the Sarnia Legionnaires, says junior A is different than junior B.

”It’s a lot faster and the players are smarter. They know where to be. It’s a totally different game.”

Windsor was two-for-four on the power play and Sarnia zero-for-four. There were just seven minor penalties called until the final 10 seconds when two fights broke out. Sting defenceman Joe Rogalski was involved in the second fight meaning he will serve a two-game suspension.

The Sting return home Friday night to host the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds beginning at 7:35 p.m. at the RBC Centre. It’s the start of three games in two and a half days for the Sting as they play Saturday night in Erie and Sunday afternoon at Brampton.



-Wellwood was first star with Brandon Alderson of the Sting second star and Wallace third star.

- Scratches for the Sting included Kale Kerbashian (concussion), Ron Soucie (shoulder) and Daniel Broussard (collarbone). Defenceman Anton Zupancic was again in the lineup, up from the Sarnia Legionnaires.

- Sarnia and Windsor conclude their six-game season series Jan. 31 in Windsor.

- Windsor was involved in another major trade Sunday sending Austin Watson plus two second round draft picks (2012 and 2014) to the Peterborough Petes for forward Zack Kassian. Watson was Windsor’s second round pick a year ago and is rated as a potential first round NHL draft pick this June. Kassian, a Windsor native, was a first round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres last year.