Vipers Inch Closer To Top With Shutout Win Over Sarnia

The LaSalle Vipers continue to put pressure on the teams ahead of them in the standings, picking up two more points with a shutout victory over the Sarnia Legionnaires on Wednesday night in LaSalle.

After compiling a 7-1 record in January, the Vipers started the final month of the regular-season by picking up right where they left off. A shorthanded tally by Nick Graniero opened the scoring just two minutes into the first, and was followed by Darby Drouillard’s first goal of the season at 11:44 to put the home side up by two through 20 minutes of play. Max Frattaroli scored early in the second and Drew Booker scored late, before Spencer Lecot rounded out the scoring with his GOJHL-defenseman leading 13th goal of the season in the third. Lecot was the top scorer on the night, picking up two assists to go along with his goal, while Frattaroli and Booker each had a goal and an assist.

Tre Altiman stopped all 25 shots he faced, including stopping speedy Sarnia forward Austin Harper’s penalty shot in the third to put away his second shutout and 15th win of the season. The rookie netminder is second in the Western Conference to teammate Ian Michelone with a 0.93 save percentage.

The win moved the Vipers within one point of the St. Marys Lincolns for third in the Western Conference, with the two teams set to clash on Friday night in St. Marys. LaSalle’s win coupled with London’s loss to Chatham
also moved them one point behind the second-place Nationals, who hold two games in hand.

The team will hold a practice on Thursday afternoon to prepare for Friday night’s showdown in St. Marys. Game-time from the Pyramid Recreation Complex is set for 7:30 PM.