It took a shootout to get there, but the Sarnia Sting beat the Niagara IceDogs 4-3 Sunday afternoon in the annual Teddy Bear toss game at Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Anthony Salinitri would score not only the first goal of the game on either side, but also the Sting's first goal, which sent a soft barrage of teddy bears flying over the glass onto the ice. A total of 3,238 stuffed animals would be picked off the ice and later distributed to a number of area charities. Salinitri's goal was his 11th of the year, coming at 17:41 in the first period.
Ryan McGregor made the score 2-0 Sarnia when he connected at 19:24 in the second quarter, but the shutout did not last long as Niagara's Akil Thomas scored the first of two goals on the afternoon just 14 seconds later, making the score 2-1 Sting at the second intermission.
Sarnia would extend the lead once again in third period as Jordan Kyrou scored his tenth goal of the season at 4:32. The IceDogs would score two more goals in the third, from Oliver Castleman and Thomas' second goal of the game.
The five-minute overtime period came and went with the Sting outshooting the IceDogs 5-3, and the Sting would take the shootout. Justin Fazio would turn away 33 of 36 Niagara shots in goal.
Sarnia next hosts the Guelph Storm on Wednesday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05pm.