Jon Maillet For the Journal
Gavin Hayes scored twice and added two assists, while Zacharie Giroux had two goals and an assist as the Flint Firebirds skated to a 5-1 win over the Sarnia Sting Sunday afternoon, as Sarnia’s losing streak reaches five games.
Jacob LeBlanc had the lone Sarnia goal, while Nick Suryzcia was in net for the loss, making 15 saves on 19 shots.
Giroux started the scoring with his ninth of the season, as Flint got off to a quick start, going up 1-0 just 1:37 into the game. They would hold that one-goal lead until halfway through the second period, when Hayes scored his 13th of the year, giving Flint the 2-0 lead.
Giroux would make it 3-0 just before the end of the second on his 10th of the season and second of the game with just under three minutes left in the period.
Flint would score a fourth consecutive goal, this time shorthanded, just over six minutes into the third period; Hayes picking up his second of the game and the Firebirds took a commanding 4-0 lead.
LeBlanc would stop the bleeding midway through the third; his fourth of the season assisted by Zach Filak and Sandis Vilmanis cut the Flint lead to 4-1.
Coulson Pitre would add his 12th of the season into an empty net.
With the loss, the Sting now drop to 9-13-0-0 on the season, and are in the midst of a 5 game slide, ending a very busy week for the club.
The Sting announced Friday that Corunna native Dustin Jeffrey would step in to replace outgoing assistant coach Brent Sullivan, and over the weekend, the club announced two trades.
The club has moved the rights to Luca Del Bel Belluz in exchange for a conditional 15th round pick in the 2027 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection from the Saginaw Spirit.
“We believe Luca will stay with Cleveland AHL, however should those plans change we believed Saginaw could be a best destination point for him. This deal allows Saginaw the ability to work with Columbus,” said Sting GM Dylan Seca via press release.
In the second trade of the day, this one with the Mississauga Steelheads, Sarnia Sting General Manager Dylan Seca announced that the Hockey Club has acquired left wing Kai Schwindt in exchange for a 9th round pick (GUE) in the 2024 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
After signing as a free agent to the Steelheads for the 2021-22 season, Schwindt finished the regular season with 17 points in total (12G, 5A). Last year he tallied a season best of 25 points with 12 goals and 13 assists.
Schwindt was in the line up Sunday afternoon.
The Sting are idle until Saturday November 25, when they head to Saginaw to take on the Spirit, puck drops at 7:05pm at the Dow Event Centre.