With former Sting star Steven Stamkos closing in on a 50-goal season, it might be a good time to look back at the top scoring big leaguers who have come out of our city.

There are a number of exceptionally accomplished marksmen who got their start playing junior hockey in Sarnia.

Perhaps that shouldn't be too surprising because, going into this campaign, 26 players from the Sarnia Legionnaires Jr. 'B' franchise have graduated to the NHL or WHA. That number includes skaters who played under the team's various nicknames over the years (Legionnaires, Sailors, Bees, Steeplejacks and Blast).

Another 27 have made the jump from the Ontario Hockey League Sting, including Matt Martin and Ryan Wilson, who made the big time this season.

Here's a look at our top 10 big league goal getters:

Phil Esposito (Legionnaires) – 717 NHL goals

Dino Ciccarelli (Bees) – 604 NHL goals

Tony McKegney (Bees) – 320 NHL goals

Eric Vail (Legionnaires) – 216 NHL goals

Don Burgess (Legionnaires) – 107 WHA goals

Jerry Butler (Bees) – 99 NHL goals

Trevor Letowski (Sting) – 84 NHL goals

Pat Stapleton (Legionnaires) – 70 NHL and WHA goals

Steven Stamkos (Sting) – 65 NHL goals

Jon Sim (Sting) – 61 NHL goals

A couple of Sarnia players who didn't crack the top 10 still managed to burst into the 50-goal club. They include former Bee Mike Crombeen, who got 55 NHL goals in his career, and former Legionnaire Duke Harris, who blinked the red light 54 times in the NHL and WHA.

It's tempting to say the Jr. 'B' club has been, by far, more successful. But it should be remembered it has been around for 60 years, while the Sting are only 16 years old. Likewise, we should keep in mind that Stamkos is only 20 years old. Barring serious injury, he could be at or near the top of the above list by the time his career is over.