Sarnia Sting 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[ohloutsider]

I don't think I've ever seen such a decline over a 5 game stretch.

Apparently you haven't watched any Spits games.

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Yeah that was painful to watch. I ended up just having it on in the background while I watched football during the third period. At least we scored a goal. Lmao. May have to head down to Whitby next weekend to watch Braidy Wassilyn and Adam Valentini because it seems like there's a good chance we end up with one of them. We'll for sure end up with one of them if we keep making soft plays like we did today. Fischer and Doucette can't win a 2v1 board battle down low leading to the first goal. Second and third goal were awful turnovers by Schneider and J. LeBlanc where they just softly threw the puck off the boards. Fourth goal was a careless play in the neutral zone by Brown. Not doing much right at the moment. Likely won't get much better on Saturday either since we're playing Saginaw who's getting hot and have started loading up

Apparently you haven't watched any Spits games.

The last three matchups between us will certainly be interesting to watch

 

[howler2]

Reached the point where they r trying but can't do anything right. Passing looks terrible. Can't execute or finish plays.

Impossible for any one player to look good when the entire team can't do anything. No speed. No pace. Nothing.

Oh how I miss watching last year's team.

Last years team is why you have this years team, everyone knew a year ago it woud be this bad !

 

[StingUpdates]

Last years team is why you have this years team, everyone knew a year ago it woud be this bad !

Yep. We joked last yr during the run how bad we'd look come September and that was before we got the twins haha.

It's the junior hockey cycle (outside London). Never eases the pain of the down years. Especially when we don't win the yr prior.

I even got a fooled a touch with the start tho I still said they'd fall off a bit. Just way to young on D & they haven't had a healthy F unit all season + teams have woken up/stopped overlooking them. Mix it all together & this is what ya get.

I think they'll get better than what we've seen lately, but ultimately with WJCs upcoming then the trade deadline I don't see a playoff team unless a team ahead of us falls apart & with the goal being 2026 a top 4 pick isn't the worst thing ever.

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Another big weekend for Sting prospects:

Chris Soares had 2G/1A including the OT winner in a 5-4 win on Friday, giving him 12G/7A in 28 GP

Evan Maillet made 43/44 saves in a 2-1 win on Saturday improving his save percentage to .918

Michael Denney with 2G in 2 weekend games. He now has a GOJHL leading 18 goals

Liam Beamish had 2G/2A in a 9-2 win tonight putting at 29 points, which is tied for 4th in the GOJHL

 

[StingUpdates]

Another big weekend for Sting prospects:

Chris Soares had 2G/1A including the OT winner in a 5-4 win on Friday, giving him 12G/7A in 28 GP

Evan Maillet made 43/44 saves in a 2-1 win on Saturday improving his save percentage to .918

Michael Denney with 2G in 2 weekend games. He now has a GOJHL leading 18 goals

Liam Beamish had 2G/2A in a 9-2 win tonight putting at 29 points, which is tied for 4th in the GOJHL

They gotta sign Beamish. Not worried he'll go elsewhere but he's putting up such great numbers it'll get attention eventually. Not to mention why not bring the kid up & see what he's about cause he's clearly a top player in that league.

7 straight games with a goal for Denney too. Have seen some highlights & he can fly. From seeing Beamish' he has quite a wrister. Gets a ton behind it.

Also Beamish is 2nd in goals behind Denney. So two Sting prospects are 1st & 2nd in goals in the entire GOJHL. How about that, eh? Can't remember that happening before.

 

[honeydripper]

I’m happy to eat my words later this season, but I really doubt DBB, Voit, Mast returning to the O. It would definitely help the chances of a successful rebuild, but let’s be real, they’ve moved on.
Sorry if it’s been answered already, but does anyone know what the conditional picks are from SAG for DBB if he reports?

 

[OHL4Life]

I’m happy to eat my words later this season, but I really doubt DBB, Voit, Mast returning to the O. It would definitely help the chances of a successful rebuild, but let’s be real, they’ve moved on.
Sorry if it’s been answered already, but does anyone know what the conditional picks are from SAG for DBB if he reports?

ryan mast was already waived through the league.

 

[davewheeler]

Yep. We joked last yr during the run how bad we'd look come September and that was before we got the twins haha.

It's the junior hockey cycle (outside London). Never eases the pain of the down years. Especially when we don't win the yr prior.

I even got a fooled a touch with the start tho I still said they'd fall off a bit. Just way to young on D & they haven't had a healthy F unit all season + teams have woken up/stopped overlooking them. Mix it all together & this is what ya get.

I think they'll get better than what we've seen lately, but ultimately with WJCs upcoming then the trade deadline I don't see a playoff team unless a team ahead of us falls apart & with the goal being 2026 a top 4 pick isn't the worst thing ever.

I disagree, what Sarnia did was not the normal hockey cycle in the O ... we're seeing teams like PTBO, Ottawa, Kitchener all contend again this year after making a run... I've never seen a team do what Sarnia did last year in essentially trading all young players and picks for a 3 month window. No one mortgages 2-3 years for 3 months.

 

[davewheeler]

I’m happy to eat my words later this season, but I really doubt DBB, Voit, Mast returning to the O. It would definitely help the chances of a successful rebuild, but let’s be real, they’ve moved on.
Sorry if it’s been answered already, but does anyone know what the conditional picks are from SAG for DBB if he reports?

TBH I am hoping London, who 100% pulls the strings behind the scenes, can talk Toronto into sending Voit back to Sarnia and have a deal in place to acquire him from Sarnia.

 

[StingUpdates]

I disagree, what Sarnia did was not the normal hockey cycle in the O ... we're seeing teams like PTBO, Ottawa, Kitchener all contend again this year after making a run... I've never seen a team do what Sarnia did last year in essentially trading all young players and picks for a 3 month window. No one mortgages 2-3 years for 3 months.

We've seen a few teams do it over the years, but yah Sarnia definitely went all-in about as far as u can go. I dont think it was their plan from the start though.

I think they completely had Namestnikov penciled in as a guy to help them win a championship. We all complained how bad he was playing. How ineffective he was here. Had a chance on L1. PP1. Nothing. So it was time to trade him even if we weren't going for it.

Daviault didn't progress like we had hoped from Yr 1 to Yr 2. Was getting less & less ice time as we went & wasn't playing very well. Erie board don't seem to love his play this yr either. So to me made sense with him.

MacDonell I was fine with. Don't remember fully but he completely lost his offensive way for long stretches. He'd have a huge game or weekend then go 2-3 weeks with nothing. Think we all had doubts if he could score or put up points consistently.

Martone. Yah. Knew from the moment we traded him it was gonna hurt. A lot. The more time goes on the more I regret that trade, but as I've said before there's a good chance he turns pro at 19 which is the yr we'd wanna go for it again & him moving up would be devastating to r chances. But if hes returned then I'll fully regret it.

To me the 1 thing I wish they didn't do was trade for Kyrou & Del Mastro. With Ritchie, Mast, Dillingham, Romeo, Fischer already here we didn't need two star Dmen. Obviously, they were tremendous & it gave us one helluva Dcore. Would MISS have taken Daviault + picks for EDM? No clue. But giving up Daviault+Martone + all the picks we did for 2D when D was already a really strong area I look back on as unnecessary

 

[OHL4Life]

We've seen a few teams do it over the years, but yah Sarnia definitely went all-in about as far as u can go. I dont think it was their plan from the start though.

I think they completely had Namestnikov penciled in as a guy to help them win a championship. We all complained how bad he was playing. How ineffective he was here. Had a chance on L1. PP1. Nothing. So it was time to trade him even if we weren't going for it.

Daviault didn't progress like we had hoped from Yr 1 to Yr 2. Was getting less & less ice time as we went & wasn't playing very well. Erie board don't seem to love his play this yr either. So to me made sense with him.

MacDonell I was fine with. Don't remember fully but he completely lost his offensive way for long stretches. He'd have a huge game or weekend then go 2-3 weeks with nothing. Think we all had doubts if he could score or put up points consistently.

Martone. Yah. Knew from the moment we traded him it was gonna hurt. A lot. The more time goes on the more I regret that trade, but as I've said before there's a good chance he turns pro at 19 which is the yr we'd wanna go for it again & him moving up would be devastating to r chances. But if hes returned then I'll fully regret it.

To me the 1 thing I wish they didn't do was trade for Kyrou & Del Mastro. With Ritchie, Mast, Dillingham, Romeo, Fischer already here we didn't need two star Dmen. Obviously, they were tremendous & it gave us one helluva Dcore. Would MISS have taken Daviault + picks for EDM? No clue. But giving up Daviault+Martone + all the picks we did for 2D when D was already a really strong area I look back on as unnecessary

dont know if ive seen someone go so 'all in' like sarnia did. its starting to become more normal but in the past it use to be trade for 1 high end guy and a few secondary guys and go. sarnia traded for 4 high end guys, thats alot.

 

[Kingpin794]

I disagree, what Sarnia did was not the normal hockey cycle in the O ... we're seeing teams like PTBO, Ottawa, Kitchener all contend again this year after making a run... I've never seen a team do what Sarnia did last year in essentially trading all young players and picks for a 3 month window. No one mortgages 2-3 years for 3 months.

What the Petes and Rangers are doing at this moment is not sustainable over a full season. They'll regress to the mean eventually (for different reasons).

 

[davewheeler]

What the Petes and Rangers are doing at this moment is not sustainable over a full season. They'll regress to the mean eventually (for different reasons).

Really? Kitchener is loaded and they have a great coach. PTBO has a decent roster led by Beck and the East isnt good. Were about 1/3rd into the season here so teams kinda are what they are by now.... IMO Kitchener is the best team in the O ... I'd be shocked If they regressed to the middle of the pack. Also PTBO is going to finish either 1 or 2 in the East... PTBO may be inclined to trade at the deadline tho. Just my opinion.

 

[Kingpin794]

Really? Kitchener is loaded and they have a great coach. PTBO has a decent roster led by Beck and the East isnt good. We’re about 1/3rd into the season here so teams kinda are what they are by now.... IMO Kitchener is the best team in the O ... I'd be shocked If they regressed to the middle of the pack. Also PTBO is going to finish either 1 or 2 in the East... PTBO may be inclined to trade at the deadline tho. Just my opinion.

Kitchener currently has a goal different of 50 only 20 games in. That’s an insane pace. Like better than the best teams of the past 25 years. That’s not sustainable. They’ll be good but not what they are right this second.

 

[ohloutsider]

Kitchener currently has a goal different of 50 only 20 games in. That’s an insane pace. Like better than the best teams of the past 25 years. That’s not sustainable. They’ll be good but not what they are right this second.

They have played Windsor 4 times. That will inflate any teams numbers.

 

[StingUpdates]

We got to see first hand what a great coach & total team buy-in gets you with London in the conference final. Heck even Boston in the NHL right now.

That's what Kitchener has right now. They don't turn the puck over. They don't shoot themselves in the foot. They play smart & stay true to there systems & in junior that takes u a long way. Add in they've had the best line in the league & arguably the best goalie & u see what u get.

Saginaw is gonna go full Sarnia & add an all star unit, London can't add a ton but they'll get a body or two up front. Who knows what OS does. SSM will add but how much. GUE no clue. I don't think KIT needs much to have a legitimate shot to go all the way.

 

[robp1219]

We've seen a few teams do it over the years, but yah Sarnia definitely went all-in about as far as u can go. I dont think it was their plan from the start though.

I think they completely had Namestnikov penciled in as a guy to help them win a championship. We all complained how bad he was playing. How ineffective he was here. Had a chance on L1. PP1. Nothing. So it was time to trade him even if we weren't going for it.

Daviault didn't progress like we had hoped from Yr 1 to Yr 2. Was getting less & less ice time as we went & wasn't playing very well. Erie board don't seem to love his play this yr either. So to me made sense with him.

MacDonell I was fine with. Don't remember fully but he completely lost his offensive way for long stretches. He'd have a huge game or weekend then go 2-3 weeks with nothing. Think we all had doubts if he could score or put up points consistently.

Martone. Yah. Knew from the moment we traded him it was gonna hurt. A lot. The more time goes on the more I regret that trade, but as I've said before there's a good chance he turns pro at 19 which is the yr we'd wanna go for it again & him moving up would be devastating to r chances. But if hes returned then I'll fully regret it.

To me the 1 thing I wish they didn't do was trade for Kyrou & Del Mastro. With Ritchie, Mast, Dillingham, Romeo, Fischer already here we didn't need two star Dmen. Obviously, they were tremendous & it gave us one helluva Dcore. Would MISS have taken Daviault + picks for EDM? No clue. But giving up Daviault+Martone + all the picks we did for 2D when D was already a really strong area I look back on as unnecessary

I was fine with bringing in the two star defenceman, I wish they did more homework on del bel belluz game. He was wayyyyy to soft for playoff hockey and was a ghost at times. Probably could of managed to keep Martone and a draft pick if we only traded for del mastro.

 

[davewheeler]

Kitchener currently has a goal different of 50 only 20 games in. That’s an insane pace. Like better than the best teams of the past 25 years. That’s not sustainable. They’ll be good but not what they are right this second.

fair enough!

 

[davewheeler]

We got to see first hand what a great coach & total team buy-in gets you with London in the conference final. Heck even Boston in the NHL right now.

That's what Kitchener has right now. They don't turn the puck over. They don't shoot themselves in the foot. They play smart & stay true to there systems & in junior that takes u a long way. Add in they've had the best line in the league & arguably the best goalie & u see what u get.

Saginaw is gonna go full Sarnia & add an all star unit, London can't add a ton but they'll get a body or two up front. Who knows what OS does. SSM will add but how much. GUE no clue. I don't think KIT needs much to have a legitimate shot to go all the way.

So far I have been very disappointed with Owen Sound ... lotsa drama going on with the front office... I thought they had a shot.. I mean they still do but they really need to pick it up. Sudbury has also been kinda disappointing ... I picked Sudbury to win it all this year... they gotta get going too.... Guelph and Ssm are kinda stuck in the middle.... tbh watch out for Erie... it may not be their year this year but next year they should be primed.

 

[StingUpdates]

So far I have been very disappointed with Owen Sound ... lotsa drama going on with the front office... I thought they had a shot.. I mean they still do but they really need to pick it up. Sudbury has also been kinda disappointing ... I picked Sudbury to win it all this year... they gotta get going too.... Guelph and Ssm are kinda stuck in the middle.... tbh watch out for Erie... it may not be their year this year but next year they should be primed.

Yah I've been on OSs bandwagon for years. Thought last yr they'd be top 4 then this yr be unbelievable. 8th last yr & swept. Now barely better than us. Very Disappointing.

Seems like there best guys have developed very little over the years which is a major red flag. Not a fan of their GM either. His quotes always leave me a bit puzzled.

Just had a 3-0 weekend tho. So maybe that's their turning point.

Looks like the coaching in SBY is a bit of an issue and I think they maybe have to many egos/1 way players. GUE is reliant on Potrias being sent back. If not big letdown. SSM is solid. Just lack pop. I agree on Erie. Their Top 9 is legit. Gaudreau has been stable.

 

[RangerNation]

They have played Windsor 4 times. That will inflate any teams numbers.

So will playing backup goalies. What was Erie thinking not playing BG on Tuesday? Another 10 goals. Against better teams (London, Petes, Owen Sound, SOO), it's been more 4 or 5 goals a game. Still impressive. Every time I say something has to give, Jussi laughs and they play better. I won't argue.

 

[StingUpdates]

No Brown tonight. Naturally. Man is it ever frustrating that we can't go one single weekend without losing a new F.

7-11-22 is reunited.. Wainwright remains on wing (makes 0 sense) & is with Hall & Way!

Expecting an ugly one tonight, but would love to be surprised. Saginaw is absolutely rolling as are we! Just in a different directions lol.

 

[JAMER]

This team's getting really hard to watch.

 

[Ferda11]

This team's getting really hard to watch.

I agree, and I missed a handful of those recent losses. This team is looking like 1st overall pick worthy. Tough to even talk about it on here lol.