Wikipedia

Sarnia 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).

Sarnia Sting
CitySarnia, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionWest
Founded1994 (1994)–95
Home arenaProgressive Auto Sales Arena
(capacity: 5,300)
ColoursBlack, white and gold
     
Owner(s)Derian Hatcher
David Legwand[1]
General managerDylan Seca
Head coachAlan Letang
AffiliatesSarnia Legionnaires
Strathroy Rockets
Websitewww.sarniasting.com
Franchise history
1969–1992Cornwall Royals
1992–1994Newmarket Royals
1994–presentSarnia Sting
Current uniform

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

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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

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

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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

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Players

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Award winners

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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

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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

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Yearly results

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Regular season

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Legend: OT = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season Games Won Lost Tied OT SL Points Pct % Goals
For		 Goals
Against		 Standing
1994–95 66 24 37 5 - - 53 0.402 250 292 3rd Western
1995–96 66 39 23 4 - - 82 0.621 330 276 2nd Western
1996–97 66 35 24 7 - - 77 0.583 286 251 2nd Western
1997–98 66 32 21 13 - - 77 0.583 253 227 3rd Western
1998–99 68 37 25 6 - - 80 0.588 279 216 2nd West
1999–2000 68 33 27 8 - - 74 0.544 211 189 3rd West
2000–01 68 28 31 7 2 - 65 0.463 235 244 3rd West
2001–02 68 27 29 5 7 - 66 0.434 236 260 4th West
2002–03 68 41 19 7 1 - 90 0.654 234 223 2nd West
2003–04 68 37 23 4 4 - 82 0.574 220 210 1st West
2004–05 68 16 41 6 5 - 43 0.316 156 228 5th West
2005–06 68 17 46 - 2 3 39 0.287 197 295 5th West
2006–07 68 34 24 - 5 5 78 0.574 270 241 4th West
2007–08 68 37 29 - 2 0 76 0.559 251 229 3rd West
2008–09 68 35 26 - 4 3 77 0.566 216 210 4th West
2009–10 68 17 46 - 3 2 39 0.287 184 295 5th West
2010–11 68 25 36 - 5 2 57 0.419 243 321 4th West
2011–12 68 34 27 - 2 5 75 0.551 243 235 2nd West
2012–13 68 35 28 - 1 4 75 0.551 247 254 3rd West
2013–14 68 17 44 - 2 5 41 0.301 211 341 5th West
2014–15 68 29 32 - 4 3 65 0.478 232 263 3rd West
2015–16 68 42 19 - 5 2 91 0.669 254 192 1st West
2016–17 68 31 30 - 6 1 69 0.507 257 277 4th West
2017–18 68 46 17 - 4 1 97 0.713 299 213 2nd West
2018–19 68 28 33 - 5 2 63 0.463 271 300 3rd West
2019–20 62 22 34 - 5 1 50 0.403 244 299 5th West
2020–21 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0.000 0 0 Season cancelled
2021–22 68 27 36 - 4 1 59 0.434 234 279 4th West
2022–23 68 41 18 - 5 4 91 0.669 298 224 2nd West
2023–24 68 25 39 - 3 1 54 0.397 204 292 4th West
Total 1,958 891 864 72 86 45 1,985 0.507 7,045 7,376 2 Division Titles

Playoffs

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  • 1994–95 Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 0 in division quarter-finals.
  • 1995–96 Defeated S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in division quarter-finals.
    Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
  • 1996–97 Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
    Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3 in quarter-finals.
  • 1997–98 Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
  • 1998–99 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 1999–00 Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2000–01 Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2001–02 Lost to Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2002–03 Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2003–04 Lost to Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2004–05 Did not qualify
  • 2005–06 Did not qualify
  • 2006–07 Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2007–08 Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2008–09 Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2009–10 Did not qualify
  • 2010–11 Did not qualify
  • 2011–12 Lost to Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2012–13 Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2013–14 Did not qualify
  • 2014–15 Lost to Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2015–16 Lost to Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2016–17 Lost to Erie Otters 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2017–18 Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2018–19 Lost to Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2019–20 Playoffs cancelled
  • 2020–21 Season cancelled
  • 2021–22 Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2022–23 Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
    Lost to London Knights 4 games to 2 in conference finals.
  • 2023–24 Did not qualify

Jerseys and logos

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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

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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

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  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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