Ben Thomas (pictured) made 38 saves through 65 minutes of play then stopped all three attempts faced in the shootout to lead the Strathroy Rockets to a 2-1 win over the London Nationals on Saturday night in front of 427 spectators at the West Middlesex Memorial Centre.

After scoring his team's lone goal in regulation, Patrick Easter had the only successful attempt in the shootout to clinch the win for the Rockets (10-5-1), who earned their third win on their last four games.

Torrin Lauziere (SL, 2-2-4) matched Thomas save for save through three periods and overtime, stopping 36 of 37 shots. His efforts helped earn a single point for the Nationals (9-2-5). With their five combined OT/SO losses, the Nationals are tied with the Listowel Cyclones for most in the GOJHL.

This was the seventh time this season that the Nationals have ended regulation time in a tie. They are now 2-5 in extra time - 1-2 in overtime and 1-3 in shootouts.

Nationals coach Barry Martinelli and his Rockets counterpart Mike Bondy were both quoted as expressing concerns over their respective team inconsistent efforts in their previous games. Both coaches are astute hockey men and realize that even a great hockey club is not going to win all of their games.

But prolonged inconsistency is something no coach will not tolerate. Consistency in hockey usually revolves around two factors, particularly in junior hockey - preparation and work ethic.

If a coach suspects that his players are not preparing well enough for a game - mentally, physically and spiritually, and then sees a lack of work ethic on the ice, changes are often swift and merciless.

Changes are likely unnecessary following the Strathroy Rockets' 2-1 shootout win over the London Nationals at the WMMC Saturday night. Both coaches should be pleased with their respective club's work ethic following a hard fought, diligent effort by both hockey clubs.

Patrick Easter scored the only goal of the first period. Shawn Crowley made a quick diagonal blue line to blue line pass to Andrew McCombe who scooted into the London zone and found the trailer Easter. The Rockets scoring leader beat Lauziere with a wrist shot from between the hash marks at 9:36. Easter sits fourth in Western Conference scoring.

The Rockets dominated the first half of the opening period and at one time led the Nats 10-4 on the shot clock. London then put tremendous pressure on Thomas and the Rockets with an aggressive fore-check, outshooting the Rockets 9-3 in the last half of the period.

The two teams skated through a very exciting and entertaining scoreless second period that saw the Nats outshoot the Rockets 12-9. The Nationals tied the game 1-1 early in the third period when Dan Rhame cashed in on an Adam McKee rebound at 1:52 after McKee had outraced the Rockets defense to a shoot-in from Stephen Sanza.

The majority of the game saw Lauziere and Thomas put on a goaltending clinic. Both netminders had phenomenal outings. Lauziere acted as a third defenseman and was very involved with his team's offense, constantly quickly moving the puck up to his teammates, though one of those passes backfired when it came too close to the Nationals' bench, resulting in a too many men on the ice penalty.

Thomas sparkled in the overtime making a pair of late game saving stops to send the game into the shootout.

Easter scored the only goal of the shootout with a rapier-quick deke and shot in close on Lauziere. In the Rockets' other attempt, Crowley over-skated the puck and failed to get a shot on net.

All three London shooters suffered the same fate on Thomas. First, he dove out to snare a loose puck on a lateral move by McKee. Matt Ashman then fired the puck high and wide of the Rockets net. Thomas then earned the extra point by making a dazzling left toe save on a clever deke by Brock Reynolds.

Thomas, Crowley and McCombe were the Entertainment Tonight Players of the Game.

The Rockets finish a disappointing October with 4-4 record for the month. They slipped from first place at the end of September to their current position of fifth. Fortunately for the Rockets only five points currently separate the top five teams in the highly competitive Western Conference.

A positive for the Rockets has been their strong defensive play and the outstanding goaltending from Thomas. After Thomas and Blair Bennett backstopped the Rockets to their first-ever league goaltending award last season, the Rockets are the only Western Conference team to date this season averaging less than three goals against per game (2.79). The St. Catharines Falcons (2.71) are the only GOJHL team with a a better team GAA.

The injury-riddled Rockets received some good news and bad news last week.

The good news was the return of last year's rookie of the year, Andrew Secco, who had missed the previous four games with a concussion suffered in a collision with Carter Gray in practice. Secco had another magnificent game. He excelled on his regular shift and was fitted in seamlessly on other units by coach Bondy. Secco was also employed on the point on the Rockets' first power play unit, and on the blue line late in third period when the Rockets had to kill off a Joey Beauchamp penalty. Secco's versatile play, accurate passing, and checking abilities were key to the Rockets win.

The bad news on the injury front was the absence of top rearguard Brady Vandenberk. The veteran, who was off to an all-star caliber start this season, suffered a work place injury severing the tendons in his left thumb. Vandenberk required surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital in London and will likely be out of the lineup the next four weeks. Unfortunately for the Rockets, November is one of their busiest months of the season with eleven games scheduled. Vandenberk was the anchor on the Rockets defense logging a ton of ice time. His low, hard, accurate shot and pinpoint passing on the point will be missed on the Rockets power play. He was also the team's top penalty killing defenseman, leading all players in penalty killing shifts.

Vandenberk's absence has caused a major overhaul on the Rockets ble line, with all three defensive pairing affected. On Saturday, Jared Anger was paired with Gray, Coulter Cahill with veteran Dan Grant and newcomer Kevin Curridor with sixteen-year-old underager Shawn Crowley. The very reliable Grant - a four-year veteran - will be called upon to lead the rather inexperienced Rockets defense. Cahill, Crowley and Curridor are all rookies, while Anger (29 games), Gray (33 games) and the injured Kent McPherson (26 games) all saw limited action last season.

Vandenberk's absence also gave the Rockets a different look on the power play. Joining forward Secco on the point was winger Andrew McCombe, marking the first all-forward power play alignment for the Rockets in recent memory. McCombe and Secco are natural fits on the point. They are two of the most defensively responsible forwards on the club. They are tremendous passers and playmakers and possess an innate sense of timing.

In addition to Vandenberk, sitting in the Rockets sickbay for Saturday's game were team captain Kyle Moore (knee), McPherson (shoulder) and tough-nosed winger Shawn Furlong (shoulder). Rookie Mitch McNeill was a healthy scratch.

The Rockets have a pair of games next weekend. Saturday they host the St. Thomas Stars at 7:30 at West Middlesex Memorial Centre. That game will feature the Rocket Captains and myFM's Coats for Kids Campaign. myFM is the corporate sponsor for the game. The Rockets then travel to travel to Chatham to play the Maroons in a 7:00pm contest.

London has a busy week playing three games. Wednesday they host the first place Sarnia Legionnaires at 7:30pm before a vital home-and- -home series with the Leamington Flyers. Thursday the Nationals will be in Leamington for a 7:10pm start before the return engagement in London on Saturday at 7:30pm.

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