The Sarnia Legionnaires got off to an early lead and held on to beat the Chatham Maroons Sunday night 3-2 at Memorial Arena.
Alec DeKoning picked up a goal and an assist for the Legionnaires, who maintain a fourth-place showing in the GOJHL Western Conference standings with 30 points. The Maroons are just one point behind in fifth place with 29.
DeKoning got his assist on the first goal of the night for Sarnia, at seven minutes into the first period by Sam McCormack on the power play. Maroons captain Steven Beenackers said the first period has been an issue for them lately.
"We're trying to figure that out right now," said Beenackers, who scored a goal in the game. "All year our first period has been our worst period of hockey. We know we're a good hockey team and we showed it tonight in the second and third."
Sarnia's Jarret Marks did score at 2:18 in the second to make it 2-0 Legionnaires, but after that the Chatham defence clamped down and the offence came around in the third, beginning with Beenackers' goal at 8:24. Austin Thompson tied it up for the Maroons at 14:57 in the third, but it would be DeKoning's power-play goal just under three minutes after that which would clinch the win for Sarnia.
Beenackers gives credit where credit is due as far as the Legionnaires are concerned, with Chatham scoring no more than two goals against them in each of their games so far this season.
"They're a hard team to play against," said Beenackers. "They know what they're doing. They come into the rink and shut our guys down. They work hard and that's always tough to play against."
The Maroons travel to London Wednesday night to face the Nationals, the same night Sarnia goes to LaSalle to face the Vipers.
