The Sarnia Legionnaires picked up their fourth straight win in dramatic fashion, with a come from behind 7-6 victory over the visiting London Nationals in GOJHL hockey action Thursday night.
Captain Hunter Tyczynski got the scoring started with his sixth goal of the season on a top corner wrist shot past Connor Hughes. Hughes was then pulled from the London crease in favour of Zack Weir. The Nationals went on to score four goals in just under six minutes to chase Sarnia goalie Aidan Hughes from the net after one period. Shayne Battler took over between the pipes for the Legionnaires.
The second period was a different story as the Legionnaires came out on fire. Brandon Layman scored at the 1:33 mark to make it 4-2 London, and Brad Yowart finished off a back door passing play on the powerplay to make it a 4-3 contest.
London's John Warren then scored a powerplay goal of his own to put the Nationals ahead 5-3. Four minutes later, Ryan Vendramin scored on a jam play in the crease to pull the Legionnaires back to within a goal.
With the play in the Legionnaires end, defenceman Sam McCormick stopped an empty net goal with Shayne Battler out of position. The play came back up the ice and McCormick potted the game tying goal to make it 5-5 after two periods of play.
Jarret Marks opened the third period with a goal on a nice pass from Tyczynski. Brock Perry made the score 7-5 on a dazzling inside out move past the London defence before firing the puck top shelf.
London scored a shorthanded goal just over a minute later but that would be as close as they would come. The Nationals had a late goal waived off because the net came off before the puck crossed the goal line.
Perry and Vendramin also added two assists each to give them both three points on the night.
John Warren scored a pair of goals for the Nationals while Tanner Ferreira, John Adams, Max Vinogradov, and Austin Kemp added singles.
The win moves the Legionnaires to 15-10-1-3 on the season, just two points behind London (16-9-3-1) and Chatham (17-9-1-1) in the Western Conference standings and seven out of first place.
The shots were even at 31 apiece and both clubs scored once on two powerplay chances.
Sarnia's next game is Saturday, December 19 at home to St. Thomas. Rogers will be on hand as part of the Hometown Hockey Tour presented by Scotiabank.