We are just past the mid way mark of the Sarnia Sting season. Dave Brody used to do a piece for the Sarnia Observer that involved a mid season Sarnia Sting report card, which has inspired me to put together this blog. Coming up to the trade deadline I am sure that some of these players will not be with the Sting come Jan 10th.
Forwards
#8 Dominic Alberga (B): (5g, 10a, 15pts, -11,30 PIM, 1 SHG) While Alberga may not be the most offensive player on the team and his stats may not wow you (especially his -11), Alberga plays a very prominent and important role for the Sarnia Sting. Alberga has been excellent on the penalty kill this season and has even seen some brief appearances on the 2nd PP line. Alberga is a grinding, hard nosed, pesky forward and has filled an important role for the Sting.
#10 Nail Yakupov (A+): (21g, 32a, 53pts, +21, 24 PIM, 11 PPG) It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone the numbers that Yakupov has put up. Battling through a back injury this season Yakupov is averaging 2.04 its per game this season having only appeared in 26 games so far. Yakupov also leads the team with 11 power play goals and is second on the team in plus/minus. Hopefully the fans in Sarnia are getting out to see this phenom now because much like when Steven Stamkos was around Yakupov will not be back next year.
#12 Charles Sarault (A+): (14G, 46A, 60pts, +5, 16 PIM, 5 PPG, 2 SHG) Charlie Sarault has been easily the best acquisition by Sting general manager Jacques Beaulieu. Sarault has been phenomenal for the Sting leading the team in points, second in the league in points and leading the league in assists. Sarault also has the most SHG on the Sting with 2. I think it is easy to say that Sarault as flourished playing with Yakupov but has been the most pleasant surprise on this Sting team by far. Sarault is averaging 1.58 points per game and his last career high was 38 points last year with the Kingston Frontenacs. If Sarault does not garnish NHL attention I would be very surprised.
#13 Justice Dundas (No Rating): (-8, 45 PIM) Dundas is clearly a work in progress and has spent the year bouncing between the Jr.B team in Sarnia and the Sting. Dundas has been playing a 4th line role with the Sting and while it is hard to rate him he has played a role and hasn't looked really out of place. Dundas has 45 PIM which is good for 3rd on the team behind only Nevins and Hottot. Dundas will be a good depth role player in the OHL next year playing a prominent 3rd/4th line role.
#14 Ried Boucher (B): (21G, 13A, 34 PTS, -20, 6PIM, 9PPG) While Reid Boucher's defensive game clearly needs some work as he is worst on the team at -20 he has showed what a sniper he can be. In his 1st season in the OHL Boucher has 21 goals and is forth on the team in points. Boucher was heavily recruited by JB and was an excellent addition. Boucher however needs to work on his consistency as he has definitely been a hot/cold goal scorer so far this season and needs to work on his defensive game as well.
#15 Davis Brown (No Rating): (-6, 4PIM) Brown much like Dundas hasn't appeared in enough games and has seen a limited role with the Sting this year. Brown a 3rd round pick of the Sting in 2011 has spent most of the year with the Strathroy Rockets has 48 points in 33 games in Junior B and was the Rockets leading goal scorer in early December. Brown has been limited to 4th line minutes and hasn't seen a ton of ice but expect him to be a pick part of the future of the Sting when he can put up those points as a 16 year old in Jr B.
#16 Craig Hottot (A): (13G, 7A, 20PTS, -11, 82PIM, 5PPG, 1SHG) The feisty winger is in his 3rd season with the Sting. The 19 year old is possibly the most complete player that the Sting have on their team. He may not put up huge numbers but the Sting need a player like Hottot on the team to be successful. Unfortunately recently Hottot was injured and he may now be out for the rest of the year, the Sting organization have been very tight lipped about the injury though. In 34 games this year Hottot was only 5 points off his 25 points he put up last year
#17 Ryan Kujawinski (C-): (1G, 5A, 6PTS, -7,2 PIM) While Kujawinski has been battling injuries this year and is just coming into this league as a 16 year old rookie that has seen very limited ice time his performance when on the ice has been less then memorable. Kujawinski has shown flashes of why the Sting drafted him but unfortunately has not really been able to break out yet. All that aside it may not matter as Sarnia fans won't be seeing him very often if he is truly included in the deal for Ryan Spooner from the Kingston Frontenacs.
#20 Brett Ritchie (C): (8G, 7A, 15PTS, Even, 30 PIM, 1 PPG) Ritchie started off the season somewhat on a slow disappointing note that got Sting fans on edge about his performance on the ice starting rumours that he did not want to be in Sarnia. Ritchie however has struggled through injuries for the first half of the season and due to that only appeared in 23 games so far. Since returning from injury after the break Ritchie has 2 goals in 3 games and is a -3. I think it is safe to say that if Ritchie can put up a point per game pace the 2nd half of the season he will have had a decent year but right now he is underachieving.
#23 Jack Nevins (C+): (4G, 1A, 5PTS, -6, 60PIM, 1PPG) Nevins came in to Sarnia as a free agent looking for a spot on the Sting. He took Kyle Felmmingtons job as the tough guy and has done a very good job at it. Nevins is 2nd on the Sting in PIM with 60 only behind Craig Hottot with 82. Nevins is going to be a legit heavy weight in the league and has the potential to be a Matt Martin for the Sting, if he doesn't reach that potential the Sting at least have a legit though guy. Nevins would probably have more PIM but has had 2 broken hands in the last couple months.
#27 Taylor Carnevale (C): (7G, 23A, 30PTS, -5, 4PIM, 3PPG) Carnevale has been some what of a disappointment in Sarnia this year but has almost produced at a point per game pace. The problem is Carnevale was brought to Sarnia for goal production as the overeager had 36 goals and 35 assists last year between Barrie and Windsor. At this pace Carnevale likely won't have that production or even close to it. Now it is understanding that Carnevale has a shoulder injury that is going to require off season surgery, his shoulder has been reset a couple of times on the bench. Realistically if an injury is effecting your play that much is it not just in the players best interest to have surgery now? As I finished typing this blog it was announced Taylor Carnevale will be out the remainder of the season due to shoulder injury.
#47 Nathan Mater (D): (1A, -6, 6PIM) Mater has played 19 games with the Sarnia Sting and again due to limited ice time it is hard to judge Nathan Mater. However it is evident that Mater is not ready for the OHL just yet.
#78 Nicholas Latta (D): (3G, 1A, 4PTS, -5, 24PIM) Latta was released by the Sarnia Sting earlier in the off season so they could draft Ludvig Rensfeldt in the import draft. Latta was then let out of his import status as he is a Canadian citizen and resigned with the Sting. Latta hasn't really preformed well this year receiving primarily 4th line duty he also hasn't really been given a chance.
#79 Ludvig Rensfeldt (B-): (10G, 12A, 22PTS, +4, 8PIM, 3PPG) Rensfeldt came to the Sting in the Import Draft last summer has produced but not been a huge part of the Sting offence. Rensfeldt likely getting used to North Americian hockey is currently playing in the WJC and has been fairly impressive for Team Sweden. When Rensfelt returns from the WJC hopefully he will start producing a little bit more putting up just a 0.76 point per game average right now.
#93 Brett Thompson (A): (16G, 16A, 32PTS, -2, 26PIM, 6PPG) Thompson has appeared in 22 games for the Sarnia Sting so far this season after being acquired from the Erie Otters. Thompson was brought to fill the void the Sting would be missing with Alex Galchenyuk Jr out of the line up and he has done just that with a 1.45 points per game average.
#94 Alex Galchenyuk (no rating): The 2012 draft eligible forward has been out all season recovering and nursing a knee injury. Galchenyuk expected back before the end of the season should have enough time to warm up before the playoffs.
Forward Overall Grade: B-
Defence
#4 Craig Dunnick (C+): (1G, 5A, 6PTS, -7, 14PIM) Dunnick came to the Sting earlier in the year via the Windsor Spitfires at a rather hefty price in my opinion Dunnick has not lived up to the price that Sarnia but then again I never really expected him to. Dunnick had a solid premier for the Sting and has since died off. Most needed work in his game is consistency from night to night.
#5 Nathan Chiarlitti (A-): (3G, 10A, 13PTS, +5, 38PIM) Chiarlitti has been one of the best defensemen on the Sarnia Sting so far this season. He has filled his leadership role sticking up for time mates and mixing things up when the Sting needed a boost.
#7 Jack Kuzmyk (C): (3A, -6, 18PIM) Kuzmyk hasn't been the Sting's best defensemen but he hasn't been the worst either. Jack is a valuable asset but would be a 6/7 defensemen on probably another team in the OHL. Kuzmyk is a quiet player and goes about his job well as a stay at home type guy.
#9 Mike DiPaolo (Not Rating): DiPaolo has spent most of the season with Sarnia's Jr B team but has appeared in 9 games for the Sting. DiPaolo just isn't ready for the OHL just yet.
#44 Julian Luciani (D-): (1G, 5A, 6PTS, -19, 21PIM) The plus/minus rating speaks wonders. Luciani just isn't a stelar blue liner. As a guy who isn't going to put up a whole lot of points he needs to be able to play more of a stay at home role and just isn't a shut down defensemen in my opinion. If the Sting can get a hold of 1/2 blue liners at the deadline luck for Luciani to be one of the guys on the outside looking in.
#52 Alex Basso (A-): (4G, 16A, 20PTS, +3, 20PIM, 2PPG) Basso has been a pleasant surprise on the back end this season. Unfortunately breaking his had has been out for a few weeks but should be returning in the next week. Basso has been a great PP guy and is excellent 4 on 4 as well. Basso is a piece that the Sting cannot afford to lose.
#55 Connor Murphy (no rating): (1A, -6)Spending the first 1/2 of the season on the IR recovering from knee surgery Murphy has been solid so far for the Sting and will be a pick offensive threat in the 2nd half.
#77 Anthony DeAngelo (B): (3G, 6A, 9PTS, -6, 29PIM, 1PPG) DeAngelo is a PP specialist and an offensive threat every time he steps on the ice. DeAngelo is dangerous on the blue line and while he still needs work on his defensive game he is a blue chip prospect for Sarnia for sure.
Overall Defense Grade: C
Goaltending
#1 Brandon Hope (D): (3.76 GAA, 0.880 Sv%, 2-2-0-2 10GP) Hope came into the season hoping to steal the starters role from Brandon Maxwell but hasn't been given much opportunity to do that. Hope only getting 10 games in mid way through the season it is hard to stay in game form. When Hope has been in the net it has been average or below average performance so far this season.
#45 Brandon Maxwell (C+): (3.23 GAA, 0.899 Sv%, 17-12-1-2 32GP) Maxwell preformed very well at the start of the season for about the first 20 game making sure he secured him the starting role. Since about the 20 game mark Maxwell has appeared tired and has preformed rather poorly
Goaltending Overall Grade: C-
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