Midgets win Two, Lose One
Sarnia Sting Midget MD’s dropped a 4-2 decision to Oakridge
in a hard fought contest before home fans at Sarnia Arena Sunday evening, Nov.
3. It broke a short two game league win streak 3-1 over London Bandits the
previous Saturday at Nichols Arena in London and
a 6-4 win the following day over North London
at Sarnia Arena.
In Sunday’s loss, the game was scoreless after the first period with Sarnia taking the only penalty. In the second, Sarnia took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Mitch Hodgins assisted by Devin Butler. That lasted into the third but Oakridge came alive scoring three unanswered goals in the first half of the period. Sarnia started a comeback on a goal by Jason Braun unassisted. Butler nearly tied it on a point blank shot shortly thereafter but the Oakridge goalie made a spectacular save. The tide turned again and Oakridge locked up the victory with another late goal. Jason McArthur was very sharp in net making 37 saves while the Oakridge goalie kicked aside 21.
The win the previous Saturday saw Bandits Black score first but Sarnia coming back in the secord on a goal by Jason Braun assisted by Dustin Morphew and Ryan Walker. In the third Kevin Durco scored for the Sting assisted by Aaron Buckeridge and Mario Hudson. Braun followed with the insurance goal into the empty net at 0:28 sec. assisted by Walker and Owen Gibson. The Bandits outshot Sarnia 24-21 in the game.
Sunday’s win for the Sting was a penalty filled affair with plenty of scoring. London scored on their first shot on net but the Sting tied it at 1 in the first when Joey Austin scored at 8:56 assisted by Hudson and Hodgins. In the second, Sarnia took the lead on an unassisted power play goal by Aaron Buckeridge. Ryan Walker added a goal assisted by Braun and Richard McIntosh. The Nationals fought back with a goal with only 47 sec. left in the period but Sarnia regained the two lead with only 27.4 sec. left on a goal by Butler assisted by Matt Tourignay. In the third, North London fought back again to tie the game with goals at 14:29 and 9:16. The momentum changed again to Sarnia with the second goal in the game by Ryan Walker assisted by McIntosh and Braun. Buckeridge sealed the deal with an unassisted empty net goal. Noah Melanson was solid in net making 18 saves while the Nationals goalie kicked aside 22. The game saw an unusual penalty shot awarded to Butler then being given again after the save by the North London goalie because he came out of his crease too early. He kept his cool and stopped Butler again.