Alec DeKoning scored twice and added a pair of assists as the hometown Sarnia Legionnaires defeated the LaSalle Vipers 4-3 Saturday night to tie the first round GOJHL playoff series 1-1.
DeKoning opened the scoring just 1:57 into the first period, with assists going to Jarret Marks and Konnor Roskovich. Tyler Russell and Brett Primeau responded for LaSalle to make it a 2-1 hockey game after one period of play.
After a scoreless second period, Primeau scored his second of the contest to put the Vipers ahead 3-1 at the 7:15 mark of the third.
The Legionnaires stormed back with three straight goals to seal the comeback victory. DeKoning scored shorthanded, Marks netted a powerplay goal, and Derrick Johnson scored his first goal as a Legionnaire with 3:38 remaining in the game.
Legionnaires goalie Shayne Battler made 33 saves on 36 shots while Eli Billing stopped 29 of 33 Sarnia chances.
Sarnia called up Nolan Hakr from the Mooretown Flags to back up Battler with Aidan Hughes dealing with a lower body injury.
The game got chippy after the final whistle with six Legionnaires players and five Vipers players being handed misconducts for inciting an opponent. Sarnia's Jacob Stos was also handed an abuse of officials penalty.
Game three of the series is scheduled for Sunday night at 6pm in LaSalle on CHOK.
Sarnia Legionnaires take on the LaSalle Vipers, March 5, 2016. (Photos courtesy of Troy Shantz)
