Sarnia Sting 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 4)

[Texcanuck]

Congrats to Surzycia for a tidy little 17-5-2-1 season. Really good job in a backup role.

 

[Ferda11]

I got Sting over Guelph in 5! Let’s go!

 

[StingUpdates]

Congrats to Surzycia for a tidy little 17-5-2-1 season. Really good job in a backup role.

Kids a battler. Never gives up. Not sure I see him as a starter, but they might just let him & Chartier run it next yr opposed to trading an asset for a G.

I got Sting over Guelph in 5! Let’s go!

I hate predicting Sting results so I'm staying away haha. Just leave it at I'm confident in this group. Set the tone game 1. Not looking forward to Guelph's commentary team or camera work lol.

 

[davewheeler]

If this team doesn't go far it could get ugly again with how poor the team will be for at least the next 2 years.

GUE went 4-4-1 vs SAR, WSR, LDN in 2023. 24-12-1 in their last 37 games.

Been a major surprise after trading Pastujov & Zhilkin. Don't give up much for free. Seem disciplined & Potrais, Namestnikov & Bowman have been spectacular especially on the PP. Shut them down & it'll be a quick series. If they don't it'll go 6-7.

We haven't had any issues scoring on them. Goaltending seems iffy at best. Defense is good offensively so we gotta be aware of that. Our 2nd, 3rd & 4th lines should take advantage of favorable matchups.

I do agree though that if all 4 played their A-game KIT would be the scariest. They're just so inconsistent it's crazy. I'm stunned they are sitting guys today. Throwing away playing LDN (who I really do think they could beat) to play Windsor (if OS wins)

Sarnia deserves a year where we get pasta, DBB, voit, Del Mastro, Kyrou, Ben all back to make up for all the bad luck we've had over the years.... Especially that 2017 year where we lost koneckny, zacha and chychrun when arguably all 3 had a shot at coming back...That 2017 team would have been stacked.... if none of the guys mentioned earlier come back, the roster next year will be like last place bad.

 

[robp1219]

Sarnia deserves a year where we get pasta, DBB, voit, Del Mastro, Kyrou, Ben all back to make up for all the bad luck we've had over the years.... especially that missed covid year because we were going to be good.... If none of them come back, the roster next year will be like last place bad.

I highly doubt Pasta,DBB,Voit,Kyrou, Del Mastro or Mast come back. They are all drafted and have signed entry level contracts. Not to often if ever you see a guy come back for his OA year if he’s signed a pro contract. Gaudreau has a shot tho because he isn’t signed and his first half of the year was bad.

 

[davewheeler]

I highly doubt Pasta,DBB,Voit,Kyrou, Del Mastro or Mast come back. They are all drafted and have signed entry level contracts. Not to often if ever you see a guy come back for his OA year if he’s signed a pro contract. Gaudreau has a shot tho because he isn’t signed and his first half of the year was bad.

no its not going to happen I was just wishing.

 

[Jnrl0719]

We have been here before with a few teams, this time there’s that gut feeling it will be different. Besides how will I ever live it down if we loose to my son in laws team gonna be a tense household in Guelph between my bleed black & yellow daughter and her Storm loving hubby

 

[StormWatcher]

We have been here before with a few teams, this time there’s that gut feeling it will be different. Besides how will I ever live it down if we loose to my son in laws team gonna be a tense household in Guelph between my bleed black & yellow daughter and her Storm loving hubby

I had to put all my family in Sarnia on notice.

 

[cupcrazyman2]

I'm not making any predictions on the playoffs for the Sting,Leafs whoever. lol

 

[StingUpdates]

Big thing in this series is special teams. These two teams had the most PP opportunities in the league. 1st & 5th ranked PPs. They also ranked 1&2 for PPGs at 75 & 74. Next closest had 62.

Sarnia's big advantage? PK. SAR ranks 4th @ 81.4% (took a big hit this weekend with guys sitting) vs GUE who ranked 19th at 73%. Gave up the 2nd most PPGs.

GUE excelled in OT/SO. They won 12 games in extra time compared to our 5. They gave up a ton of goals (280). Even during there great 24-12-1 stretch they've allowed 4.1 goals against per game.

They do have a very productive backend much like us. They activate a ton. Especially Buchinger & Allen. A good thing & one big reason why I like the matchup is they aren't a very physical team. They have 8 Fs below 6 foot & only have one (Bowman) that's taller than 6'1" & he's only 6'2".

It would be a surprise if we struggled to score goals in this series. We just can't get into a track meet (which we did multiple times vs them) & exchange PP opportunities. That's the only way they'll win in my eyes.

 

[Texcanuck]

Cooper Way career numbers in Oshawa: 76 games - 5 goals, 4 assists

Cooper Way in Sarnia: 60 games - 15 goals, 14 assists… all this with no power play minutes (until final weekend) and 4th line playing time. On top of that, he was a go-to guy in final minutes of tight games, due to his defensive excellence.

My unsung hero of this season.

 

[StingUpdates]

Cooper Way career numbers in Oshawa: 76 games - 5 goals, 4 assists

Cooper Way in Sarnia: 60 games - 15 goals, 14 assists… all this with no power play minutes (until final weekend) and 4th line playing time. On top of that, he was a go-to guy in final minutes of tight games, due to his defensive excellence.

My unsung hero of this season.

Completely agree. He's so reliable. He also just kept getting better & better as the yr went on.

Also shout out to Ritchie. Doesn't get as much shine as Kyrou, Del Mastro, Mast & even Dillingham sometimes cause the big hits, but he had a tremendous season.

Only one to stay healthy the entire time. 13G/31A for 44 points & he goes a team best (5th in the O) +38! Bet he was near the top on the team in blocked shots too.

 

[StingUpdates]

Gaudreau with a new set for the playoffs. Very slick & clean.

 

[robp1219]

Gaudreau with a new set for the playoffs. Very slick & clean.

Very nice, I like those better than the retro pads.

 

[Ferda11]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many opposing team fans take Sarnia to win so confidently at any point in our playoff history as a franchise in Sarnia. Hope that’s good lol.

 

[OMG67]

I got Sting over Guelph in 5! Let’s go!

Why so negative?!?!

 

[StingUpdates]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many opposing team fans take Sarnia to win so confidently at any point in our playoff history as a franchise in Sarnia. Hope that’s good lol.

oh i know. I HATE IT. Lmaooo. To much pressure for a team that's always come up short. Like I have FULL confidence in this team, but if GUE comes in & wins G1 the amount of ptsd we'll all get is insane lol.

 

[Slowpace]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many opposing team fans take Sarnia to win so confidently at any point in our playoff history as a franchise in Sarnia. Hope that’s good lol.

Sarnia vs North Bay OHL Finals!

 

[AKADonovan]

Sarnia vs North Bay OHL Finals!

Close,
But I'm thinking Sarnia vs Sudbury!

 

[StingUpdates]

Stahhhhhp pleaseeeee

Just pick London or something

 

[OMG67]

Stahhhhhp pleaseeeee

Just pick London or something

I don’t get popcorn if it’s London…..

 

[StingUpdates]

There are a few x-factors for this team, but I really do think Vilmanis is one of the bigger ones.

When he's playing his best he becomes a 1 man wrecking crew. Near unstoppable at times. He has that take over ability & I thought he started showing it more.

Final 17 games he had 8 Goals & 5 Assists. That in a line 3 role. I'm hopeful his game will translate well to the playoffs. Bigger body who's very strong on the puck. Thought he had a noticeable uptick in physicality, too. His line w/12&93 will be key if we wanna go far because if they produce good luck containing our F unit.

 

[honeydripper]

Great news: Homer Pyette of the LFPress has Sarnia losing in the first round. Keep it up, bet against them.

 

[stingfan21]

There are a few x-factors for this team, but I really do think Vilmanis is one of the bigger ones.

When he's playing his best he becomes a 1 man wrecking crew. Near unstoppable at times. He has that take over ability & I thought he started showing it more.

Final 17 games he had 8 Goals & 5 Assists. That in a line 3 role. I'm hopeful his game will translate well to the playoffs. Bigger body who's very strong on the puck. Thought he had a noticeable uptick in physicality, too. His line w/12&93 will be key if we wanna go far because if they produce good luck containing our F unit.

 

[StingUpdates]

Great news: Homer Pyette of the LFPress has Sarnia losing in the first round. Keep it up, bet against them.

He's legitimately the first person I've seen choose GUE. I almost wish more were. Lmao.

for most its a very cut & dry RD1. It's hard to envision the top seeds on either side losing, but there's always 1 or 2 surprises it feels like & a few of the lower seeds (including GUE) enter the playoffs playing well.

And at the end of the day it's Sarnia. This team feels different & have a certain level of determination I haven't seen much from a Sting team, but for most they gotta prove it before anybody believes in them.