Spits losing streak hits three

by Rob Benneian

The Windsor Spitfires were able to wrestle a point away from the visiting Sarnia Sting Oct. 8 with a third period goal from Ben Johnson, but could failed to score in the shootout and fell 3-2.

Johnson scored 19 seconds into the final frame after he received a centering pass from teammate Brady Vail. The Spits second-year winger took three whacks at the puck before slipping it past Sarnia goaltender J.P. Anderson.

The goal tied the score at two after Sarnia had struck twice in the middle period. Sting forward Nick Latta tipped in a point shot from ex-Spit Craig Duininck for Sarnia’s first goal and Reid Boucher cashed in the rebound of a shot from Charles Sarault.

Spitfires overage forward Derek Schoenmakers opened the scoring at 2:39 of the second period. Fellow overage forward Emerson Clark crashed the Sarnia goal and Schoenmakers deposited the loose puck for his second goal of the year.

Rookie forwards Ryan Verbeek, of Windsor and Jordan Addesi, of Sarnia, each received game misconducts in the first period. Verbeek and Addesi received minor penalties for roughing and slashing, respectively, at 5:29 of the first period. On their way to their respective penalty boxes, Addesi appeared to challenge Verbeek to a fight. As soon as the time on their infractions expired, Verbeek and Addesi exited the penalty box and squared off at center ice.

Spits goaltender Jaroslav Pavelka stopped 31 shots in regulation and overtime as well as the first five Sarnia attempts in the shootout. Reid Boucher scored in the sixth round to win the game for the Sting after Windsor’s Schoenmakers, Kerby Rychel, Josh Ho-Sang, Michael Clarke, Brady Vail and Clark were unsuccessful.

The Spitfires next game is Oct. 11 when the Soo Greyhounds come to town.