Despite a horrible first period Friday, the Sarnia Sting still had a shot at a comeback. Then the penalties began.<\/p>\n
Published Dec 20, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 18\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n
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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<\/p>\n
Despite a horrible first period Friday, the Sarnia Sting still had a shot at a comeback.<\/p>\n
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Then the penalties began.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
The Sting (10-19-3-1) would have tied the Otters (13-18-1-1) for eighth place in the OHL\u2019s Western Conference with a regulation win. Instead, they remain in last place and are now four points out of the final playoff spot.<\/p>\n
Captain Alessandro Di Iorio scored twice for the Sting, who were outshot 49-25.<\/p>\n
The first period started poorly for the Sting and went downhill from there. They trailed 4-0 after 20 minutes.<\/p>\n
A mid-ice turnover led to Evan Headrick\u2019s breakaway goal at 1:33 in his Otters debut.<\/p>\n
Michael Dec and Gabriel Frasca, after a turnover, scored three minutes apart to chase Sting goaltender Patrick Quinlan at 14:11.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Sting\u2019s comeback hopes dimmed when they were whistled for three straight penalties in the final minute of the period.<\/p>\n
They paid the price in the third when Dec and Frasca scored in the first 66 seconds.<\/p>\n
The Sting managed only five shots in the third period on Noah Erliden, who finished with 23 saves.<\/p>\n
Maillet stopped 36 of 39 shots in relief.<\/p>\n
The Sting play their final game before the Christmas break Saturday at the Niagara IceDogs.<\/p>\n
NOTES: The Sting have lost two in a row. \u2026 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. \u2026 The Otters were 2-for-6 on the power play. The Sting were 1-for-4. \u2026 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. \u2026 Frasca had three assists for a five-point night. \u2026 The Otters lead the season series 2-0. Both remaining games are in Sarnia.<\/p>\n
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