Wainwright Scores Twice To Spark Sarnia’s Come From Behind 5-3 Win
By Carl Chimenti
Easton Wainwright scored twice in the third period and the Sarnia Sting (7-6-1-3) broke a four game slide, coming from behind to beat the Brampton Steelheads (7-5-1-0) 5-3, Saturday afternoon at the CAA Centre.
Wainwright scored an unassisted shorthanded goal at 9:07, which proved to be the winning goal and added an insurance goal at 16:57, with an assist from Tyson Doucette to wrap up the Sting scoring, as they gutted out a tough win, despite missing key players to the Under-17 challenge and on the injured list. Wainwright was named the first star of the game. Kaeden Johnston played his best game as a Sting, with a goal and two assists. Along with the assist on the insurance goal, Doucette also found the back of the net in the final period, as the Sting scored three times. Zach Filak celebrated his 200 career OHL game, with a goal and an assist. Mitch Young, Ryan Brown and Hughston Hurt, contributed one assist each for the Sting. Nick Surzycia allowed two early goals, but settled down with a strong effort, especially in the third period, stopping 13 of the 14 shots he faced, which included a penalty shot. In all, Surzycia turned away 25 of the 28 Brampton shots, as the Sting out-shot the Steelheads 33-28. Sting forward JJ Franceschetti made his OHL debut in the contest. Sarnia went 0/3 on the power-play and scored their first shorthanded goal of the year from Wainwright. In addition, the Sting penalty killing unit was perfect as they shut down the Steelheads six times.
Luke Misa (Calgary Flames had a goal and an assist, while former Sting Porter Martone added two assists for Brampton. Jack Ivankovic stopped 28 of 33 shots. Brampton came out of the gate quickly in the first period, scoring a pair of goals 67 seconds apart. Adam Zidlicky opened the scoring at 7:39 and Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken) added to that with a goal at 8:46. Sarnia came back strong and dominated the second half of the opening period and were rewarded with a goal from Johnston (4th) from Young and Brown at 18:29. Surzycia came up with two beautiful saves in the final minute, robing MacGregor Richmond and Rehkopf, sending the two teams into the dressing room, with the Sting down just one goal after the first 20 minutes. Sarnia out-shot Brampton 10-9.
The Sting carried their first period momentum into the middle frame and scored the only goal of the period 12 seconds in. Filak, off the face-off, to start the period, came up with the puck and beat Ivankovic high on the stick side tying the game at 2-2, with Johnston and Hurt assisting. Sarnia out-shot Brampton 12-5.
