2025 - 2026 Sarnia Sting Season Thread, Part III

[davewheeler]

Yah he's gone and I don't much care frankly. If they draft a solid import it'll be a huge upgrade. Quinlan has some upside but he had some of the worst body language I've ever seen from a G. Clearly didn't wanna be here post TDL.

I'll be shocked if he starts 5 games the next 2 years at ND.

Agree for sure... outside of a few games Quinlan was not good for us.... Just to double back on Emerton.... I did find it a bit confusing that if the team plans to go for it this coming year they should have traded for a more established, already developed d man and not a 2nd year guy... Sarnia kinda just tossed in another question mark on the team which I feel like we're full of.... I feel like no one can say for sure this team will be good or bad .... which is kinda weird going into year 4 of a rebuld. 4 years and were still hoping for guys to develop. Seems off but we'll see.

 

[frontsfan67]

Agree for sure... outside of a few games Quinlan was not good for us.... Just to double back on Emerton.... I did find it a bit confusing that if the team plans to go for it this coming year they should have traded for a more established, already developed d man and not a 2nd year guy... Sarnia kinda just tossed in another question mark on the team which I feel like we're full of.... I feel like no one can say for sure this team will be good or bad .... which is kinda weird going into year 4 of a rebuld. 4 years and were still hoping for guys to develop. Seems off but we'll see.

I wonder if they’re planning a 2 year thing. Good this year and better next year.

Di Iorio 19, Emerton 19, Lammens 18, Sgro and bannister 17, Ospienko 18 etc obviously the glaring omission on Edwards

 

[StingUpdates]

Agree for sure... outside of a few games Quinlan was not good for us.... Just to double back on Emerton.... I did find it a bit confusing that if the team plans to go for it this coming year they should have traded for a more established, already developed d man and not a 2nd year guy... Sarnia kinda just tossed in another question mark on the team which I feel like we're full of.... I feel like no one can say for sure this team will be good or bad .... which is kinda weird going into year 4 of a rebuld. 4 years and were still hoping for guys to develop. Seems off but we'll see.

I actually had this Convo with someone after the trade today.

If they have some assurances (hard to imagine they do this early) that Di Iorio, Katolicky, Lammens, K. Aucoin, Walos, Emerton, Hawery etc wanna stay OHL in 27-28 then I am a big fan of these trades. Sets us up to be good this year, and even better next year.

What scares me is the likelihood they don't, and this team is just fine (4th-5th place) & then Di Iorio, Walos Challenger, Manza, Aucoin's leave & we go right back to being bad.

They are on a really slippery slope right now.

 

[BluewaterHky]

I really don’t see many of those players returning beyond this season. Sting will make the playoffs (too many team have lost too many players), but London and Guelph will likely be stronger and then who knows what another few teams in our division put together.
I see them in 3 or 4 in our division.

 

[StingUpdates]

I really don’t see many of those players returning beyond this season. Sting will make the playoffs (too many team have lost too many players), but London and Guelph will likely be stronger and then who knows what another few teams in our division put together.
I see them in 3 or 4 in our division.

I have no idea what to expect. Di Iorio has said a few times he wants to be loyal to Sarnia because they drafted him. So is he staying a normal amount? Be crazy good if he did.

Walos is a bit undersized so maybe he'll be realistic and be patient before leaving. If his brother is joining the team that could also help with him staying. Katolicky we gotta see what level he is. Hawery/Challenger gotta take a huge step forward if they wanna go NCAA. Hopefully the Aucoin brothers wanna stay together as long as possible so Cameron returns as OA so Kaden does too at 18 then leaves at 19.

But if they take the steps we hope more schools will come calling & it'll make it harder to keep them.

If Sarnia doesnt finish ahead of Windsor and the Soo who went all-in & lost a ton we should just fold up shop lmao. Flint lost a ton, too & Saginaw was the same level as us this yr and lost Klepov/Barabanov. Not getting my hopes up, but the door couldn't be more open to win the division.

 

[robp1219]

Agree for sure... outside of a few games Quinlan was not good for us.... Just to double back on Emerton.... I did find it a bit confusing that if the team plans to go for it this coming year they should have traded for a more established, already developed d man and not a 2nd year guy... Sarnia kinda just tossed in another question mark on the team which I feel like we're full of.... I feel like no one can say for sure this team will be good or bad .... which is kinda weird going into year 4 of a rebuld. 4 years and were still hoping for guys to develop. Seems off but we'll see.

I think he’s a pretty established defenceman, he played all situations and played a lot of minutes for a good team in Barrie, got good playoff experience. Made the all rookie OHL team. I think he’s established but has more room to grow which is a good thing.

 

[StingUpdates]

I know I'm usually the optimistic one, but I honestly feel like this team isn't going anywhere man.

I see the path to winning the division. Mainly because the division looks as weak as it's maybe ever been, but the goal should always be to win the league & Guelph has added Czata, Griffin, Dravecky & a good import already & still have significantly more assets to use than we do.

Owen Sound has a solid returning crop and have a ton of assets. London will be better than us & have more assets to use. Saginaw is loaded on picks to flip.

After 3 years of being trash it took all of 2 trades for our cupboard to look poor. We have one 2nd in the next 3 drafts. We have one 3rd in the next 3 drafts. How is that even possible? LDN just went to 3 straight finals and have way more! Saginaw won the mem cup in that time & didn't get parekh or misa back yet they have more! How?!?

Odds are we'll have 0 when the TDL comes around. Then what? We gonna trade Sgro? Lammens? Aucoin? Jaworski? Be exactly what they did in '23.

Even if EVERYTHING goes perfect & the guys we talk about (Hawery, Challenger, etc) take a big step forward what's the ceiling of this team? 2nd round? Maybe if that euro goalie is a superstar, 3rd round? Certainly not favorites to win the conference let alone the league.

It's unfathomable that u can miss 3 years in a row & not have accumulated a crap ton of picks. No we didn't have elite assets, but they could've flipped Young in 24-25 for a 2nd & 3rd. Easily. Should've traded Sikic, Filak, Wainwright etc for 3rds & 4ths.

Instead we wasted two 4ths on Johnston. Dealt two 4ths for Manza. Wasted a 5th on Larocque. Wasted an 8th on Schneider. Wasted an 8th on Mailler. Gave up 3+5 for Van Volsen.

Obviously hope I'm dead wrong, and if they hit it big in the euro draft this will be a fun, good team to watch which will be nice after 3 years, but I (like all of you) wanna watch a team that can WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP & right now I just see a solid team that has next to no shot to be a true cup contender & that has even more question marks for the following season.

 

[robp1219]

I know I'm usually the optimistic one, but I honestly feel like this team isn't going anywhere man.

I see the path to winning the division. Mainly because the division looks as weak as it's maybe ever been, but the goal should always be to win the league & Guelph has added Czata, Griffin, Dravecky & a good import already & still have significantly more assets to use than we do.

Owen Sound has a solid returning crop and have a ton of assets. London will be better than us & have more assets to use. Saginaw is loaded on picks to flip.

After 3 years of being trash it took all of 2 trades for our cupboard to look poor. We have one 2nd in the next 3 drafts. We have one 3rd in the next 3 drafts. How is that even possible? LDN just went to 3 straight finals and have way more! Saginaw won the mem cup in that time & didn't get parekh or misa back yet they have more! How?!?

Odds are we'll have 0 when the TDL comes around. Then what? We gonna trade Sgro? Lammens? Aucoin? Jaworski? Be exactly what they did in '23.

Even if EVERYTHING goes perfect & the guys we talk about (Hawery, Challenger, etc) take a big step forward what's the ceiling of this team? 2nd round? Maybe if that euro goalie is a superstar, 3rd round? Certainly not favorites to win the conference let alone the league.

It's unfathomable that u can miss 3 years in a row & not have accumulated a crap ton of picks. No we didn't have elite assets, but they could've flipped Young in 24-25 for a 2nd & 3rd. Easily. Should've traded Sikic, Filak, Wainwright etc for 3rds & 4ths.

Instead we wasted two 4ths on Johnston. Dealt two 4ths for Manza. Wasted a 5th on Larocque. Wasted an 8th on Schneider. Wasted an 8th on Mailler. Gave up 3+5 for Van Volsen.

Obviously hope I'm dead wrong, and if they hit it big in the euro draft this will be a fun, good team to watch which will be nice after 3 years, but I (like all of you) wanna watch a team that can WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP & right now I just see a solid team that has next to no shot to be a true cup contender & that has even more question marks for the following season.

London keeps their picks because they do a good job drafting and developing star players instead of building their team through trades. Then they add a couple picks to their cupboards when they have a “down year” (4th or 5th place finish lol). That is the key difference between us and them, drafting and developing. Sting should be spending money on bringing in the best scouts, development coaches and GM available.

 

[JLaj98]

The OHL schedule has been released for the 2026-2027 season. Here's the amount of times we play each team:

Flint - 8
Soo, Saginaw, Windsor, London - 6
Guelph, Owen Sound, Erie, Kitchener - 4
Eastern Conference Teams - 2

 

[StingUpdates]

The OHL schedule has been released for the 2026-2027 season. Here's the amount of times we play each team:

Flint - 8
Soo, Saginaw, Windsor, London - 6
Guelph, Owen Sound, Erie, Kitchener - 4
Eastern Conference Teams - 2

Playing one team 8 times in a 68 games schedule still drives me nuts.

 

[StingUpdates]

London keeps their picks because they do a good job drafting and developing star players instead of building their team through trades. Then they add a couple picks to their cupboards when they have a “down year” (4th or 5th place finish lol). That is the key difference between us and them, drafting and developing. Sting should be spending money on bringing in the best scouts, development coaches and GM available.

U straight up never see LDN do the trades I listed. They won't waste 3rds/4ths/5th/6ths on depth players, or guys they hope pan out. Proper GMing..

Unlike us who seem to be like OH hole at 3rd line wing? Here's two 4ths to fix it! Oh need a depth D?! Here's two 5ths! It's terrible.

 

[StingUpdates]

Wow, what a tough schedule to start the season.

Opening weekend only one game @ SSM. Not bad. Hate that it's only 1 game tho.

Then the next weekend 3in4 @ PBO KGN OTT.

Return home for 1 game vs SSM on the Friday before Saturday in Barrie and Sunday in Oshawa for our 1st 3in3.

6of7 on the road to start & two eastern trips + a trip to SSM.

For a team that desperately needs a good start.

 

[OSAttackFan88]

Playing one team 8 times in a 68 games schedule still drives me nuts.

That’s how I feel with OS playing Barrie 8 times a year, it makes no sense playing an east team that many times.. yes I get travel wise it makes sense but I’d rather see them maybe 4-6 and more games against your division

 

[Kingpin794]

U straight up never see LDN do the trades I listed. They won't waste 3rds/4ths/5th/6ths on depth players, or guys they hope pan out. Proper GMing..

Unlike us who seem to be like OH hole at 3rd line wing? Here's two 4ths to fix it! Oh need a depth D?! Here's two 5ths! It's terrible.

Well they also benefitted from essentially being the only team who could recruit. They built momentum on success from the early 2000’s. It’s yet to be seen if they are still going to be the same juggernaut now that the playing field has been leveled in a sense. That and Dale isn’t going to be coaching forever. Who knows. Maybe he’s about ready to take a step back in this new world kinda like Saban took off when NIL became a thing.

 

[howler2]

Playing one team 8 times in a 68 games schedule still drives me nuts.

It's all about $$$$$

 

[StingUpdates]

Not gonna lie I was just typing out my issues with the Emerton price but wanted to go over what it's cost to acquire good D the last 2 seasons & to my surprise this is honestly pretty fair & I was wrong to be as critical.

Now he's not a sure fire, plug & play top pair D like some of these guys, but over the last 2 years here are some trades for rentals which Emerton hopefully isn't (he said in observer he hasn't decided when he'll depart)

last year
Petrovski - 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 5th
Von Richter - 2nd, 3rd, 3rd
Fibigr - 2nd, 3rd, 6th & Hicks (good U18 D)
Chromiak - 2nd & 3rd
Bedkowski - 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 7th

2 years ago
Mews - 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 5th, Jackson (good U18 D)
Roberts - 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd

None of those picks were conditional.

Like I said, he isn't as good as these guys were at the times of those trades, but these guys were all rentals compared to Emerton, who is coming off a 1st team all rookie season, and is 18 + hopefully returning at 19.

So I must admit I may have jumped the gun on being hard on Seca (can you blame me lol) here. I still think it's a slight overpay because he isn't sure fire to be this stud, but his trajectory is certainly one of a guy who should be a big player for us, hopefully for 2 seasons & if he is two 2nds, two 3rds is relatively fair/even.

 

[davewheeler]

Not gonna lie I was just typing out my issues with the Emerton price but wanted to go over what it's cost to acquire good D the last 2 seasons & to my surprise this is honestly pretty fair & I was wrong to be as critical.

Now he's not a sure fire, plug & play top pair D like some of these guys, but over the last 2 years here are some trades for rentals which Emerton hopefully isn't (he said in observer he hasn't decided when he'll depart)

last year
Petrovski - 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 5th
Von Richter - 2nd, 3rd, 3rd
Fibigr - 2nd, 3rd, 6th & Hicks (good U18 D)
Chromiak - 2nd & 3rd
Bedkowski - 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 7th

2 years ago
Mews - 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 5th, Jackson (good U18 D)
Roberts - 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd

None of those picks were conditional.

Like I said, he isn't as good as these guys were at the times of those trades, but these guys were all rentals compared to Emerton, who is coming off a 1st team all rookie season, and is 18 + hopefully returning at 19.

So I must admit I may have jumped the gun on being hard on Seca (can you blame me lol) here. I still think it's a slight overpay because he isn't sure fire to be this stud, but his trajectory is certainly one of a guy who should be a big player for us, hopefully for 2 seasons & if he is two 2nds, two 3rds is relatively fair/even.

who is Sarnia's defence coach? Do they even have one? That is gonna matter a lot in his development.

 

[StingUpdates]

who is Sarnia's defence coach? Do they even have one? That is gonna matter a lot in his development.

I think it's Baptist. Guy rans the Fs I think. Hard to remember it's already been a few months lol.

I thought Turcotte did a good job tightening them up (compared to what they were w/Letang) so hopefully with a full summer & camp it's more noticable

 

[StingUpdates]

Jesus we want ALL the defenceman lol. Clearly the kid must be pretty good..2nd round USHL pick. Visiting OHL teams. same Twitter said a dozen schools (Big Ten, Hockey East, ECAC) reached out to him on Jan. 1.

Can't see us having any shot in a recruitment battle vs Windsor lol. Especially with how much opportunity they could offer with all their graduates

 

[robp1219]

Jesus we want ALL the defenceman lol. Clearly the kid must be pretty good..2nd round USHL pick. Visiting OHL teams. same Twitter said a dozen schools (Big Ten, Hockey East, ECAC) reached out to him on Jan. 1.

Can't see us having any shot in a recruitment battle vs Windsor lol. Especially with how much opportunity they could offer with all their graduates

That’s a good thing. Build from the backend out. Need to draft and sign quality goalies of our own aswell.

 

[StingUpdates]

That’s a good thing. Build from the backend out. Need to draft and sign quality goalies of our own aswell.

Yah I'm with you. I love the idea of signing guys who will come in 27-28. Restocking the team a year beforehand & makes you not as desperate to compete with other teams a year from now.

 

[StingUpdates]

Took a little longer than I wanted, but here's a video on Sgro.

Bit harder to make one of these on a D because it's not just goals/assists but I tried to show the total package he brings.

I absolutely love the way he attacks open ice. If he sees it he goes right into it/right at it. Always has his head up & wanting to make plays.

He's way more physical than I thought he was. He absolutely laid out some guys. Some may be concerned with this lol, but he's a bit like Fischer in the sense of always needing to get a guy back. They slash him, he slashes back. They cross check, he cross checks back etc. that's good and bad as we saw w/Lukas.

He's got a pretty wicked shot & he loves to use it. One of the better ones I've seen for a draft eligible D recently. Between he & Emerton (& K. Aucoin) I think we are going to see a wayyyyy more aggressive Dcore offensively.

He's an excellent outlet passer. He hits guys in stride constantly & to his own detriment sometimes there isn't a pass he can't make.

Some guys just get how to operate a power play & he does. Great lateral movement, elusive while also being a threat himself. Gonna be a weapon on it as he matures.

The areas he'll need to work on (IMO) is not being as risky with the puck (feel like we say that for every rookie) & I think with his skating ability he could be significantly better at eluding a heavy forecheck. I found him not using his edges/speed enough to handle them. Hopefully an easy fix.

All in all he's easily got the most upside of any D we've drafted since Chychrun. Has every tool necessary to be a superstar. On the team now to develop him properly & get him to be the player he can be.

 

[StingUpdates]

Guelph on the verge of adding Rooebrock now. They are gonna be the class of the conference by a significant amount. Griffin, Czata, Rooebrock, Dravecky, Bartovic all in the last 2-3 weeks & they haven't even broke the bank on what they've given up.

 

[Jason M]

Rookie camp schedule is out. Takes place Friday and Saturday at Clearwater Arena.

 

[StingUpdates]

Rookie camp schedule is out. Takes place Friday and Saturday at Clearwater Arena.

God I haven't been in that arena in so long lol. Wonder if they've touched it up at all.

Tomorrow is just practices so no point in attending really. Saturday all scrimmages.

See if they invited any intriguing free agents like last year with Sinclair and Schaaf