The year ended on a sour note for the Sarnia Sting, getting blown out by their Hwy 402 rivals the London Knights 9-3.
The loss means the Sting close out 2024 with a 12-19-7 record through 38 games, the most played in the OHL to this point. Sarnia's .408 points percentage remains good enough for the final playoff spot in the West.
London leapt out to an early lead thanks to a pair of goals from Landon Sim that came a little over a minute apart.
The Knights closed the first period with a 4-1 lead, and never looked back from there.
Sim would eventually get the hat-trick midway through a second period that saw six combined goals and the Knights leading 8-3 heading into the final frame.
The third period was expectedly chippy, with Sarnia's Zach Filak and London's Jared Woolley both drawing unsportsmanlike misconduct penalties.
Denver Barkey had five assists for London, while Sam O'Reilly had a four point night. Austin Elliott made 33 saves for the Knights, who actually gave up more shots in the game.
Ruslan Karimov, Tyson Doucette and Alessandro Di Iorio had the goals for the Sting.
Nick Surzycia got the start for Sarnia but was pulled after four goals. Evan Maillet closed out the night, stopping 21 of 26 shots.
Sarnia won't have to wait long for a chance at revenge, with the rematch coming tomorrow afternoon at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Puck drop is at 2:05 p.m.
