Brock Perry scored twice, including the game-winner, as the Sarnia Legionnaires beat the Rockets 5-4 in overtime Saturday night in Strathroy.
The Legionnaires head into Christmas in a three-way tie with LaSalle and St. Thomas for third place in the GOJHL Western Conference with 42 points each. The Rockets are tied for eighth place in the division with 16 points.Strathroy put themselves up 2-0 in the first period thanks to goals by Nicolas Grandy and Spencer Allen. The Legionnaires got those two goals back before the intermission when Trevor Bogaert and Perry lit the lamp.
The Rockets went up two goals again in the middle frame. Michael Wood put Strathroy ahead 3-2 at 4:04 in the period, then added a goal by Noah Campbell. Greg Hay found the net for Sarnia before the end of the period as Strathroy held a 4-3 lead.
Matt Stoia scored on the power play for Sarnia in the third period, forcing the game into overtime. Perry scored the winner for the Legionnaires with 16 seconds left in the extra frame.
Will Barber got the win for the Legionnaires despite being pulled in the third period for Nolan DeKoning. Together they stopped 38 shots. Zack Weir had 36 saves for Strathroy.
Sarnia returns from the holiday break on Thursday, January 4 when they host the London Nationals. Strathroy is back in action January 5 when they visit St. Thomas.
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Ryan Lyle had two assists as the Mooretown Flags beat the Blenheim Blades 4-2 at home.
The Flags sit in fifth place in the PJHL Stobbs Division standings with 38 points, just five behind the leading Essex 73s and Lakeshore Canadiens. The Blades are in seventh place with 24 points.
Mooretown scored two unanswered goals in the first period from Daniel Wellington and Cameron Rannie.
Michael Vanek cut the Flags' lead in half in the second frame when his goal put the Blades on the board.
The Flags got that goal back at 2:41 in the third period when Joe Ferrara scored. Blenheim returned on the power play just after the midway point of the stanza on Sebastian Stubberfield's goal. Mooretown got insurance and sealed the win when Josh Vale scored the empty-netter as time expired in regulation.
Nolan Hakr stopped 25 shots in goal for Mooretown. Chris DeWulf had 51 saves for the Blades.
The Flags return to the ice on Friday when they travel to Dresden. Blenheim suits up again Thursday, January 4 when they head to Petrolia.