Sarnia Sting
| Sarnia Sting | |
|---|---|
| File:Sarniasting.gif | |
| City | Sarnia, Ontario |
| League | Ontario Hockey League |
| Conference | Western |
| Division | West |
| Founded | 1994-1995 |
| Home arena | Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre |
| Colours | Black, White & Gold |
| General manager | Alan Millar |
| Head coach | Dave MacQueen |
| Affiliate | Sarnia Blast |
| Franchise history | |
| 1969-1992 | Cornwall Royals |
| 1992-1994 | Newmarket Royals |
| 1994-Present | Sarnia Sting |
The Sarnia Sting are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They play out of the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre (capacity: 5,300) in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
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 were 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 - 1982 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 is team's current president and governor. In 1999-2000 he was voted OHL Executive of the Year.
The move of the OHL franchise also forced the Junior "B" Sarnia Bees to change their name to the Steeplejacks.
Championships
The Sarnia Sting are in quest of their first J. Ross Robertson Cup and first Memorial Cup. In 1996-1997 was the closest the team came to the OHL Championship, but lost in the quarter-finals to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3. The lone title so far, was in 2003-2004 when the team won the OHL West Division, winning the Bumbacco Trophy.
Coaches
- List of Coaches
Multiple seasons in parentheses.
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Players
Award winners
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Bobby Smith Trophy
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy
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Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy
F.W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy
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Ivan Tennant Memorial Award
Jack Ferguson Award
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Retired numbers
None to date. Numbers are honoured with a banner for Aaron Brand and Peter Sarno have both won OHL scoring titles, and Trevor Letowski and Danny Fritsche were chosen to the World Junior teams.
NHL Alumni
Yearly Results
Regular Season
Legend:
T = Tie (1994-2005), SL = Shoot Out Loss (2005-06 onward), OTL = Overtime Loss
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | T/SL | OTL | 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 |
| 1999-00 | 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 | 251 | 193 | 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 |
Playoffs
- 1994-1995 Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 0 in division quarter-finals.
- 1995-1996 Defeated S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in division quarter-finals.
Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals. - 1996-1997 Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3 in quarter-finals. - 1997-1998 Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
- 1998-1999 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
- 1999-2000 Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
- 2000-2001 Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
- 2001-2002 Lost to Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
- 2002-2003 Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
- 2003-2004 Lost to Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
- 2004-2005 Out of playoffs.
- 2005-2006 Out of playoffs.
- 2006-2007 Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
Team uniforms & logos
The original Sarnia Sting logo (inset left) showed a hockey playing bee with its stinger poised. It was used from 1994 to 1999, with the team's colours being black, white and silver. The current logo has been instituted since 1999, with gold replacing silver on the uniforms. The jersey also features beehive patches on each shoulder.
The sting have also used a third jersey that has a yellow background and a bee holding a stick about the Sarnia name on the chest (inset right).
The Sting chose a new jersey for the 2006-07 season. Fans were given the option to chose between two possibilities. [1]
Arenas
The Sarnia Sting played their first three seasons at the Sarnia Arena located in the downtown area. The Sting relocated from Newmarket, Ontario on the promise that a new arena would be built near the outskirts of town at Lambton College.
- Sarnia Arena - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
For the 1997-1998 season the Sting moved into their new home at the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre. It is a more modern facility with private boxes and many other amenities. The SSEC, as it is known, hosted the Ontario Hockey League All Star Game in 1999, and the RE/Max Canada-Russia Challenge in 2004.
- Sarnia Sports & Entertainment Centre - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
See also
External links
- www.sarniasting.com Official site
- Booster Club Sarnia Sting Booster Club
- Ontario Hockey League Official web site
- Canadian Hockey League Official web site