A late third-period goal by London Nationals' forward Brad Smulders broke a 2-2 tie and spoiled the Chatham Maroons' spotless record last night at Ray Lanctin Arena. The Maroons came into London leading the Western Junior B Hockey League with 10 straight wins out of the gate.

An empty-net goal by Dean Hill, his second of the game, gave the Nats a 4-2 win and improved their record to five wins, two losses, an overtime loss and a shootout loss for 12 points.

"It was a special win," said Nationals goalie Brad Atkinson. "It seems Chatham is the team to beat this year."

Atkinson, 18, from Tecumseh, played six exhibition games with Chatham before being traded to the Nationals.

"I wanted to stay in Chatham," said Atkinson. "But I was offered a deal I couldn't refuse and I'm glad I came here."

London assistant coach Russ Morningstar said before the game the Nats could only beat the Maroons if they outworked them.

"You have to work for everything in this league," said Morningstar. "The guys are starting to realize this."

The teams battled evenly through the first period with 10 shots apiece, but rookie Matt Knights put the Maroons ahead 1-0.

The Nationals dominated the second, scoring two power-play goals, one by Tyler Dutchychen and the second by Dean Hill.

Chatham's Kyle O'Neil tied the game at 7:40 of the third.

But the Nats kept digging and at 16:32 Smulders used a turnaround shot to beat Maroons' goalie Brandon Kohuch.

NATIONALS 4 MAROONS 2