Sarnia Sting

Last updated
Sarnia Sting
Sarnia Sting Official Logo.svg
City Sarnia, Ontario
League Ontario Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionWest
Founded 1994 (1994)–95
Home arena Progressive Auto Sales Arena
(capacity: 5,300)
ColoursBlack, white and gold
   
Owner(s) Derian Hatcher
David Legwand [1]
General managerDylan Seca
Head coach Alan Letang
Affiliates Sarnia Legionnaires
Strathroy Rockets
Website www.sarniasting.com
Franchise history
1969–1992 Cornwall Royals
1992–1994 Newmarket Royals
1994–presentSarnia Sting

The Sarnia Sting are a junior ice hockey team based in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. They are one of the 20 teams that make up the Ontario Hockey League. They play out of the Progressive Auto Sales Arena [2] (formerly the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre).

Contents

On January 22, 2015, NHL forward David Legwand, who played for the Ottawa Senators at the time, and former NHL defenseman Derian Hatcher entered an agreement to purchase the Sarnia Sting. [3] The transfer of ownership was approved by the OHL Board of Governors and completed on March 4, 2015. [4]

History

Sting vs. Spitfires - January 2012 Sarnia Sting vs Windsor Spits 3.JPG
Sting vs. Spitfires - January 2012

The franchise was granted in 1969 as one of the inaugural teams of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. At the time, the team was located in Cornwall, Ontario and known as the Cornwall Royals . During the team's tenure in the QMJHL the Royals won the Memorial Cup in 1972, 1980, and in 1981.[ citation needed ]

For the 1981–82 season, the team transferred to the Ontario Hockey League. In 1992, the franchise moved again to Newmarket, Ontario to play as the Newmarket Royals.[ citation needed ]

In 1994, the team was bought by the Ciccarelli brothers and moved to Sarnia, Ontario. Robert Ciccarelli, voted OHL Executive of the Year in 1999–2000, [5] was the team's president and governor until January 2015, when the team was sold to its current owners, former NHL defenseman Derian Hatcher and former NHL forward David Legwand. [6]

The Sting playing at the Windsor Spitfires in 2023 Sarnia Sting vs. Windsor Spitfires December 2023 18 (face-off).jpg
The Sting playing at the Windsor Spitfires in 2023

In 2018, Dan Carcillo made accusations of hazing during the 2002–03 OHL season. [7] League commissioner David Branch responded with sanctions against the Sting. [8] The club implemented changes in its routines to avoid further incidents. [9] In the 2021 OHL Draft, the Sting became the first OHL team to draft a female player, selecting goalie Taya Currie 267th overall. [10]

Championships

The Sarnia Sting have yet to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup and first Memorial Cup. The 2022-23 season was the closest the team came to the OHL Championship, but lost in the Conference Finals to London Knights 4 games to 2. Their first division title came in the 2003–04 season, when the team won the OHL West Division, winning the Bumbacco Trophy, but were later eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The Sarnia Sting won their second West Division title in 2016. They beat the Guelph Storm 7–1 to clinch the division. That was their first division title in 12 years. On March 19, 2016, the Sarnia Sting broke a franchise record from 2002–03 capturing 41 wins and 91 points to end the 2015–16 OHL season.

Coaches

Players

Award winners

Bobby Smith Trophy
Scholastic player of the year.

  • 2004–05 Richard Clune
  • 2006–07 Steven Stamkos

CHL Rookie of the Year
CHL Rookie of the Year.

  • 2010–11 Nail Yakupov

Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy
OHL Top Point Scorer.

  • 1995–96 Aaron Brand
  • 1998–99 Peter Sarno

Emms Family Award
OHL Rookie of the Year.

  • 2010–11 Nail Yakupov

F.W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy
Best rookie goalie GAA.

  • 1999–00 Andrew Sim
  • 2002–03 Ryan Munce

Ivan Tennant Memorial Award
Top academic high school player.

  • 2004–05 Matt Pelech

Jack Ferguson Award
First overall draft pick.

  • 1994 Jeff Brown
  • 2006 Steven Stamkos
  • 2010 Alex Galchenyuk
  • 2014 Jakob Chychrun

Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy
Top scoring Right Winger.

  • 2008-09 Justin DiBenedetto

Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy
Overage player of the year.

  • 1995–96 Aaron Brand
  • 2008–09 Justin DiBenedetto
  • 2012–13 Charlie Sarault

OHL Executive of the Year
Top executive in the OHL.

  • 1999–00 Robert Ciccarelli

Retired numbers

On January 12, 2018, the Sarnia Sting officially retired the first number in franchise history, Steven Stamkos' number 91. There are also banners in honour of Shawn Burr and Kerry Fraser. Banners that were once hung, but have since been taken down, include the ones of Aaron Brand and Peter Sarno who both won OHL scoring titles, Trevor Letowski, who all participated at IIHF World Junior Championships in 1997, and Danny Fritsche who won gold with the United States men's national junior ice hockey team in 2004. The team has also created a Hall of Fame inside the arena. The inaugural induction members include Jon Sim, Trevor Letowski and Rob Ciccarelli.

NHL alumni

Yearly results

Regular season

Legend: OT = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season GamesWonLostTiedOTSLPointsPct %Goals
For		Goals
Against		Standing
1994–95 6624375--530.4022502923rd Western
1995–96 6639234--820.6213302762nd Western
1996–97 6635247--770.5832862512nd Western
1997–98 66322113--770.5832532273rd Western
1998–99 6837256--800.5882792162nd West
1999–2000 6833278--740.5442111893rd West
2000–01 68283172-650.4632352443rd West
2001–02 68272957-660.4342362604th West
2002–03 68411971-900.6542342232nd West
2003–04 68372344-820.5742202101st West
2004–05 68164165-430.3161562285th West
2005–06 681746-23390.2871972955th West
2006–07 683424-55780.5742702414th West
2007–08 683729-20760.5592512293rd West
2008–09 683526-43770.5662162104th West
2009–10 681746-32390.2871842955th West
2010–11 682536-52570.4192433214th West
2011–12 683427-25750.5512432352nd West
2012–13 683528-14750.5512472543rd West
2013–14 681744-25410.3012113415th West
2014–15 682932-43650.4782322633rd West
2015–16 684219-52910.6692541921st West
2016–17 683130-61690.5072572774th West
2017–18 684617-41970.7132992132nd West
2018–19 682833-52630.4632713003rd West
2019–20 622234-51500.4032442995th West
2020–21 000-0000.00000Season cancelled
2021–22 682736-41590.4342342794th West
2022–23 684118-54910.6692982242nd West
2023–24 682539-31540.3972042924th West
Total1,9588918647286451,9850.5077,0457,3762 Division Titles

Playoffs

Jerseys and logos

The original Sarnia Sting jersey logo SarniaSting.gif
The original Sarnia Sting jersey logo

The original Sarnia Sting jersey (worn from 1994/95 - 1998/99) showed a bee playing hockey with its stinger poised. The team's colours were black, white and silver. An alternate jersey (worn from 1997/98 - 1998/99) had a yellow background and a bee holding a stick above the Sarnia name on the chest.[ citation needed ]

The current jerseys include a white jersey with a bee in the centre and a black jersey with a bee in the centre. The team got new jerseys during the 2019-20 season. During the first half of the season, the team wears the white uniform at home while during the second half of the season they wear the black uniform at home.[ citation needed ]

During the 2012 offseason the team held a contest to design the team's alternate jersey for the season. The new jersey is yellow with black and white stripes down the arm. The logo is round and includes a picture of the Blue Water Bridge in the background with a bee in the centre. Around the bridges and the bee it is inscribed "Sarnia Sting" on top and "Hockey Club" on the bottom.[ citation needed ]

Arenas

Relocation from Newmarket, Ontario in 1994 was made on the promise that a new arena would be built in Sarnia. In the meantime the team played their first four seasons at Sarnia Arena located in the downtown area.

In 1998–99 the Sting played their first season at their new home, The Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre (now known as the Progressive Auto Sales Arena). It's a more modern facility with private boxes and many other amenities. The new building also hosted the Ontario Hockey League All Star Game in 1999, and the RE/Max Canada-Russia Challenge in 2004.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Sting Office". Sarnia Sting. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  2. ↑ Simpson, Barbara (8 August 2016). "Council endorses Progressive deal". Sarnia Observer. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  3. ↑ Bridge, Terry (22 January 2015). "Sarnia Sting sold to new owners". Sarnia Observer. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  4. ↑ Ricks, Matt (4 March 2015). "Legwand and Hatcher, New Owners of Sarnia Sting" . Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  5. ↑ "OHL Recognizes Karmanos and Ciccarelli". Ontario Hockey League . 13 August 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Sarnia Sting sold to Derian Hatcher and David Legwand". Sarnia Observer. Postmedia Network. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "Ex-NHLer Carcillo recalls alleged OHL beating with sawed-off goalie stick | CBC Sports".
  8. ↑ "'We had failed Dan and the other players': OHL commissioner calls abuse allegations 'sickening' | CBC Sports".
  9. ↑ "Former Cambridge hockey player 'fortunate' to miss hazing in Sarnia".
  10. ↑ "'A dream come true': Taya Currie becomes first female taken in OHL draft".
  11. ↑ "Sting Co-Owner Derian Hatcher to Step Down as Head Coach, Remains Committed to Success of the Sting". Sarnia Sting. 1 June 2021.
  12. ↑ "Alan Letang Named Head Coach". OurSports Central. 22 June 2021.
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