The Sarnia Legionnaires (23-12-1-5) scored three goals in the third period to double up the Strathroy Rockets (8-28-1-2) 4-2 in GOJHL action Thursday night at Sarnia Arena.
The Rockets opened the scoring 8:03 into the first period on defenceman Liam Israels' first career Jr. B goal. Legionnaires forward Jon Sanderson tied the game 1-1 with a powerplay goal 12:55 into the second period. Sanderson wristed in a high snap shot, after a flurry of Sarnia chances. Denis Novikov scored just over two minutes later to put Strathroy on top 2-1.
Greg Hay and Alec DeKoning scored back to back goals to pull Sarnia ahead 3-2 just four minutes into the third. Hay tipped in a nice pass from Jon Sanderson in front of the net, after Sam McCormack kept the play alive at the blueline. DeKoning fired home a Joey Zappa cross-ice pass 1:09 later. Hay sealed the Legionnaires win with a late empty net goal. The 17-year-old rookie now has 21 goals and 18 assists in 40 games this season.
Legionnaires goalie Blair Coffin made 27 saves on 29 shots, while Vince Michelizzi stopped 38 of the 41 Sarnia shots he faced. The Legionnaires have 50 points on the season, tied for second place in the Western Conference with Leamington and LaSalle.
There are nine games remaining in the Legionnaires' season. The next one is on Wednesday, January 31 against the first place Nationals in London.
They have games in St. Marys, Leamington, and St. Thomas before returning home on Tuesday, February 13 against the Nationals.