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THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA.. The Waxers began its two-game foray last Friday at Centennial Arena by gaining a measure of revenge against the Vaughan Vipers. After losing a game early last week in overtime to the Vipers, the Waxers turned the tables by erasing a 3-1 deficit late in the third period to emerge with a 4-3 overtime win. Ben Cottreau ignited the Waxers' comeback by scoring two goals, including one with 46 seconds left in regulation time to move them to within a goal and the game-winning marker on a power play in the extra session. Jamie Wright forced overtime by scoring the game-tying goal with just 20 seconds left in regulation time. Tony Rossi scored the first goal for the Waxers on a power play. Proving that their come-from-behind win was no fluke, the Waxers travelled to Orillia on Sunday and skated off with a 4-2 win over the Couchiching Terriers in an interlocking contest. The Waxers jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held that advantage entering the final frame. While the Terriers scored twice in the final period, the Waxers countered with another goal to round out the scoring. Cottreau scored twice, including his first on a power-play for the Waxers, who improved their south conference-leading record to 12-4-3-1. Pat Porretta, with a shorthanded marker, and Ryan Steane accounted for the other goals. "Any time you can get all four points youčre pretty happy," said Herrington. "We played well on Sunday and we battled right to the end and a few things went our way late in the game on Friday." While happy with the two victories, the Waxers did pay a minor price of sorts in Sunday's game when rookie forward Ryan Olidis took seven stitches above his eye and suffered a depression fracture of his sinus cavity after getting into a minor scuffle with a Terriers' player (the injuries were suffered as a result of an inadvertent head butt that occurred with Olidis' helmet already off and the Terrier player's helmet still on). Olidis had minor surgery at Sick Childrenčs Hospital on Monday and was discharged on Tusday. Up until the mishap, Herrington noted that Olidis had been performing well when he was healthy. However, the Uxbridge resident isn't expected to be back in the lineup until after Christmas.
"It definitely won't help us," Herrington said of Olidis' injury. "But it will be up to some of the other guys to step up and pick up the slack." What did please Herrington in their weekend outings was the play of goalie Kevin Sit, who was given the starting assignment for both games. "It was nice to see him play solid and get some wins. He's had some rough luck this year. But he's finally got it going." Herrington revealed he will remain with Sit when the club resumes play tomorrow at home against the Wexford Raiders at 8 p.m. On Sunday, the Waxers will take to the road for a game against the Newmarket Hurricanes at 7:30 p.m.
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