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Despite a horrible first period Friday, the Sarnia Sting still had a shot at a comeback. Then the penalties began.
Published Dec 20, 2025  • Last updated 18 hours ago  • 2 minute read
Sarnia Sting’s Matthew Manza (55) battles Erie Otters’ Callum Hughes (9) at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia, Ont., on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Mark Malone/Postmedia Network)Article content
Despite a horrible first period Friday, the Sarnia Sting still had a shot at a comeback.
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Then the penalties began.
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The Erie Otters took advantage by scoring twice with a two-man advantage early in the third period for a 6-2 win before 3,133 at Erie Insurance Arena in Erie, Pa.
The Sting (10-19-3-1) would have tied the Otters (13-18-1-1) for eighth place in the OHL’s Western Conference with a regulation win. Instead, they remain in last place and are now four points out of the final playoff spot.
Captain Alessandro Di Iorio scored twice for the Sting, who were outshot 49-25.
The first period started poorly for the Sting and went downhill from there. They trailed 4-0 after 20 minutes.
A mid-ice turnover led to Evan Headrick’s breakaway goal at 1:33 in his Otters debut.
Michael Dec and Gabriel Frasca, after a turnover, scored three minutes apart to chase Sting goaltender Patrick Quinlan at 14:11.
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Ritter Coombs added a late short-handed goal on Evan Maillet for the 4-0 lead after yet another Sting giveaway.
Di Iorio banged in his own rebound 42 seconds into the second period. He scored again on a power play at 17:55 for his third two-goal game of the season.
The Sting’s comeback hopes dimmed when they were whistled for three straight penalties in the final minute of the period.
They paid the price in the third when Dec and Frasca scored in the first 66 seconds.
The Sting managed only five shots in the third period on Noah Erliden, who finished with 23 saves.
Maillet stopped 36 of 39 shots in relief.
The Sting play their final game before the Christmas break Saturday at the Niagara IceDogs.
NOTES: The Sting have lost two in a row. … Kaden Aucoin began the penalty parade late in the second period with a cross-checking minor with 25 seconds left. Liam Beamish was called for tripping with nine seconds to go and then Mitch Young went off for cross-checking as time expired. … The Otters were 2-for-6 on the power play. The Sting were 1-for-4. … Headrick scored in his Otters debut after going scoreless in 32 games this season with the Kitchener Rangers. The 2024 first-round draft pick was acquired this week with one draft pick for over-ager Dylan Edwards. … Frasca had three assists for a five-point night. … The Otters lead the season series 2-0. Both remaining games are in Sarnia.
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