Sarnia Sting Explained

Team:Sarnia Sting
Colour:background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#000000 5px solid; border-bottom:#FDB827 5px solid;
Colour Text:
  1. 000000
Logosize:215px
City:Sarnia, Ontario
League:Ontario Hockey League
Conference:Western
Division:West
Founded:–95
Arena:Progressive Auto Sales Arena
Capacity:5,300
Colours:Black, white and gold
Owner:Derian Hatcher
David Legwand[1]
Gm:Dylan Seca
Coach:Alan Letang
Affiliates:Sarnia Legionnaires
Strathroy Rockets
Website:www.sarniasting.com
Name1:Cornwall Royals
Dates1:1969–1992
Name2:Newmarket Royals
Dates2:1992–1994
Name3:Sarnia Sting
Dates3:1994–present

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).

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

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.

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.

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]

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.

Players

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

Games Won Lost Tied OT SL Points Pct % Goals
For 		Goals
Standing
1994–956624375--530.4022502923rd Western
1995–966639234--820.6213302762nd Western
1996–976635247--770.5832862512nd Western
1997–9866322113--770.5832532273rd Western
1998–996837256--800.5882792162nd West
1999–20006833278--740.5442111893rd West
2000–0168283172-650.4632352443rd West
2001–0268272957-660.4342362604th West
2002–0368411971-900.6542342232nd West
2003–0468372344-820.5742202101st West
2004–0568164165-430.3161562285th West
2005–06681746-23390.2871972955th West
2006–07683424-55780.5742702414th West
2007–08683729-20760.5592512293rd West
2008–09683526-43770.5662162104th West
2009–10681746-32390.2871842955th West
2010–11682536-52570.4192433214th West
2011–12683427-25750.5512432352nd West
2012–13683528-14750.5512472543rd West
2013–14681744-25410.3012113415th West
2014–15682932-43650.4782322633rd West
2015–16684219-52910.6692541921st West
2016–17683130-61690.5072572774th West
2017–18684617-41970.7132992132nd West
2018–19682833-52630.4632713003rd West
2019–20622234-51500.4032442995th West
2020–21000-0000.00000Season cancelled
2021–22682736-41590.4342342794th West
2022–23684118-54910.6692982242nd West
2023–24682539-31540.3972042924th West
Total2 Division Titles

Playoffs

Jerseys and logos

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.

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.

During the 2012 offseason the team held a contest to design the team's alternate jersey for the season. The 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.

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sting Office . Sarnia Sting . 2 December 2016.
  2. Web site: Council endorses Progressive deal. Sarnia Observer. Simpson. Barbara. 8 August 2016. 10 August 2016.
  3. Web site: Sarnia Sting sold to new owners . Sarnia Observer . Bridge . Terry . 22 January 2015 . 30 November 2016.
  4. Web site: Legwand and Hatcher, New Owners of Sarnia Sting . Ricks . Matt . 4 March 2015 . 11 April 2017.
  5. Web site: OHL Recognizes Karmanos and Ciccarelli . . 13 August 2015 . 8 December 2016.
  6. News: Sarnia Sting sold to Derian Hatcher and David Legwand . Sarnia Observer . . 22 January 2015 . 8 December 2016.
  7. Web site: Ex-NHLer Carcillo recalls alleged OHL beating with sawed-off goalie stick CBC Sports.
  8. Web site: 'We had failed Dan and the other players': OHL commissioner calls abuse allegations 'sickening' CBC Sports.
  9. Web site: Former Cambridge hockey player 'fortunate' to miss hazing in Sarnia.
  10. Web site: 'A dream come true': Taya Currie becomes first female taken in OHL draft.

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