The Rockets showed they can play with the best this past weekend.
With wins over second place St. Marys on Friday (6-1W) and over conference leading London Saturday (3-2W), the back to back wins move Strathroy into 4th in the West 18 games into the season.
On Friday, the Rockets opened the scoring 5:51 into the game when Matthew Balloch put one past the blocker side of Lincolns goalie Matteo Lalama. Exactly 3 minutes later it was Caden Faulkner picking off a pass in the offensive zone and firing one low glove side to add to the lead! Rockets head coach Jason Williams said it was the start they wanted; “We wanted to get off to a good start, and I felt like we did that. We skated hard and competed on pucks right from the start of the game.”
The first period scoring wasn’t done with just 2, both Owen Doherty and Ethan Facchina would add goals and Strathroy would take a 4-0 lead into the first intermission. That would be all the steam needed, as the Rockets cruised the rest of the way to a 6-1 win. Liam Reid made 51 saves in net, and Tage Gallant and Thomas Guidolin also scored. “The players deserved so much credit as they stuck to the game plan and executed in all 3 periods.” Jason added.
Strathroy is now 2-1 against St. Marys this year.
Saturday night back at home the Rockets faced another tough task, the Conference leading London Nationals. It was London on this night who got out in front early in the first period. Despite the early deficit, the Rockets kept right with the Nationals throughout the game. Another London goal early in the 2nd made it 2-0, a lead that they held going into the third. “..We just didn’t have it going. London was missing a few players and I felt going down 2-0 into the third we still had a chance.” Said coach Williams.
In that third period the Rockets came out flying, an early Powerplay opened the door and Dylan Richter floated one in from the point to the top corner, getting the rockets back within a goal. Then just before the halfway mark of the period, it was Matthew Balloch jumping in the rush and slamming home a rebound to tie the game at 2. It was his 2nd goal of the weekend, and the season. Things felt like they had turned now for the Rockets, having battled back down two in the third to tie the game, but still half a period to go.
With 3:15 to go in the game, it was Dylan Richter who stole the puck just beyond the red line and sped toward the Nationals net, breaking past the defence and going backhand up above the glove side to give the Rockets the lead! His second of the game, and 3rd multi-goal performance in the last week.
Strathroy would hold the Nationals late attack with the net empty, and win the game 3-2. Liam Reid made 31 saves in net for Strathroy, earning his second straight win.
Strathroy is back in action Wednesday as they travel to Lasalle to take on
