Roobroeck Completes Hat-Trick With Game Winner, As Niagara Beats Sarnia 4-3
By Carl Chimenti
Ryan Roobroeck scored three goals, including the game winner with 48 seconds left in regulaton and the Niagara IceDogs (12-5-0-0) handed the Sarnia Sting (7-8-1-3) a tough 4-3 loss Friday night at the Meridian Centre.
Sarnia had iced the puck, so a tired group remained on the ice. Off the face-off former Sting Sean Doherty slipped a pass to Roobroeck in front of the net and he managed to score from in close, to give Niagara a season series two game sweep, after the IceDogs beat the Sting by the same score 4-3, at the Hive on October 25th. Sarnia went ahead in the final period 3-2, scoring two goals, 80 seconds apart from Carter Kostuch, his 4th and Tyson Doucette 8th of the year with both goals scored early at the 2:40 and 4:00 mark respectively, only to see the IceDogs come from behind with two goals from Roobroeck, who was selected as the first star. Zach Filak and Doucette, both had a goal and an assist in the game. Filak, was named as the second star. In the assist department Mitch Young had a pair, while Lane Sim and Daylen Moses contributed one each. Nick Surzycia turned in another solid start with 26 saves on 30 shots. The Sting were better in both the shot clock 37-30 and in the face-off circle 39-31.
Both teams scored a power-play goal with Sarnia 1/5 and Niagara going one for two. IceDogs goaltender Owen Flores had 34 saves. Keven He (Winnipeg Jets) had a goal and an assist for Niagara. Ethan Czata, who assisted as well on the winning goal, was the third star for the IceDogs. Sarnia was missing yet another body as Easton Wainwright sat out the first of a three game suspension, for a hit in Wednesday night’s tilt vs Owen Sound.
A good first period from the Sting as they traded power play goals, while out-shooting the IceDogs 10-8. Sarnia opened the scoring at 11:53. Young jumped on a Niagara turnover and he feed Doucette in the slot and his shot was deflected by Filak, past goaltender Flores for a 1-0 lead. The goal was Filak’s 5th of the season and his first power-play goal this year. Niagara tied the contest shortly after at 12:44. Roobroeck scored on a tip in, with Jack Brauti and He assisting on the equalizer.
Sarnia got off to a little bit of a slow start in the second period, but then came on strong in the second half as they out-shot Niagara 11-10. The IceDogs scored the only goal, an even strength marker from He, with Andrei Loshko (Seattle Krakan) and Blair Scott assisting. The Sting had a two man-advantage for 46 seconds with about five minutes to play, but failed to score.
