Matt Mistele scored an incredible five goals to power the Sarnia Sting (32-15-5-2) to a big 11-4 win over the visiting Saginaw Spirit (20-29-3-3) in OHL play Family Day Monday. The game was nearly another sellout, with 4,161 fans in attendance.
As a result of Mistele's five goal effort, Wayne McLean of Sarnia wins $10,000 in the CHOK, Magermans and Raes Insurance Brokers Ltd., $10,000 goal contest.
Mistele said he was told on the bench in the third period that if he scored a fifth goal, someone would win $10,000. "I kinda told Hatch (Coach Derian Hatcher) he could sit me if he wanted to," Mistele said jokingly after the game. "But I got out there and luckily I got the fifth." It came with just 9 seconds left on the clock.
Mistele is the fifth Sting player to score five goals in one game. The most recent was Justin DiBenedetto on October 12, 2008 in Sault St. Marie. Jon Sim, Brendan Yarema and B.J. Johnston also accomplished the feat.
McLean's $10,000 windfall comes as he's recovering from hip replacement surgery. "If you're talking to Matt Mistele, thank him for me," said a delighted McLean.
Mistele kicked off the goal scoring parade just 3:27 into the opening period on a two on one feed from Sam Studnicka. Former Spirit Devon Paliani picked up his first of three assists on the play.
Patrick White and Kevin Spinozzi scored goals just 2:21 apart to put Sarnia ahead 3-0 and chase Saginaw goalie Evan Cormier from the crease. He allowed three goals on the first five Sting shots of the game.
Goalie Cameron Zanussi came into the game for the Spirit for the remainder of the first period. He faced 10 shots and allowed goals to Mistele and Troy Lajeunesse. Cormier returned to the contest in the second period with the Sting ahead 5-0.
The Spirit made it interesting with three goals in the first 4:32 of the second period including two off the stick of Kris Bennett. The Sting went on to score three more second period goals to pull ahead 8-3. Mistele completed the hat trick, Ryan McGregor scored his first of two goals on the night, Nikita Korostelev also scored.
Mitchell Stephens made it an 8-4 game early in the third period. The Sting then notched three more goals including two more from Matt Mistele.
The game got chippy with a pair of third period fights. The Sting's Noah Bushnell dropped the gloves with Rocky Kaura while Sarnia defenceman Connor Schlichting tussled with Connor Brown.
Sting goalie Justin Fazio stopped 24 of 28 Saginaw shots.
Hayden Hodgson played his first game back in Sarnia as a member of the Spirit, and picked up an assist on the night.
The victory extends the Sting's winning streak to four games and gives them 71 points on the season, three ahead of the Windsor Spitfires for the West Division lead, and second place in the Western Conference.
The Sting also clinched a playoff spot with Monday's win and Flint's loss in London.
The two teams will meet again Wednesday night in Saginaw at 7pm on 103.9 FM, 1070 AM CHOK.
(With files from Dave Dentinger)
