Rookie Jacob Perreault and overage veteran Anthony Salinitri each began their 2018-2019 OHL seasons with a pair of goals Saturday night.
The Sarnia Sting got three unanswered goals in the opening period on their way to a 6-2 win over the Saginaw Spirit at the Dow Event Center.
The game in Saginaw turned out to be the regular season-opener for the Sting, after their scheduled game Friday night at Sault Ste. Marie was postponed due to bad weather.
Jamieson Rees, Perreault, with his first OHL goal, and Salinitri scored in the first period. Salinitri also had an assist on Rees goal.
There was no scoring in the middle period, but the Spirit outshot Sarnia 11-4.
Saginaw got on the board at 35 seconds into the third period with a goal by Albert Michnac, his second goal of the young season. Perreault scored his second goal of the game for Sarnia over four minutes later. Saginaw pulled once again to within two when Nicholas Porco put up his first goal of the year. The win was then sealed for the Sting by goals from Adam Ruzicka and Salinitri's second, an empty-netter.
Associate coach David Legwand was impressed with the team's performance, especially considering they spent over ten hours on the bus after not being allowed across the Mackinac Bridge Friday on the way to Sault Ste. Marie because of dangerous winds.
"They came out, they competed. They played hard in the first but came off the gas a little in the second but managed to find their legs again in the third. It's a good win and a good way to start the season."
Aidan Hughes notched 28 saves out of 30 shots faced in goal for Sarnia. Saginaw goalie Cameron Lamour was pulled after the first period and replaced by Ivan Prosvetov. Together, they had 19 saves out of 24 attempts.
The Sting return home on Friday night and open their home season against the Flint Firebirds.
