One
of the things pre-season
games accomplish is to
get the young players
accustomed to life in
the Ontario Hockey
League.
For
the Sarnia Sting the
future lies in a number
of youngsters, but
especially three of
their top picks from
this year’s draft.
Alex
Galchenyuk, Nail Yakupov
and Nick Latta all
scored goals in helping
the Sting defeat the
Windsor Spitfires 6-3,
Saturday night at the
RBC Centre.
The
win improved Sarnia’s
pre-season record to
2-1-1.
Galchenyuk was the first
pick overall in the OHL
draft while Yakupov and
Latta arrived via the
CHL Import Draft.
 |
“It’s nice
to see them
get some
goals and
get more
comfortable
as we move
forward,”
said head
coach Dave
MacQueen.
“Another guy
who played
his best
game since
training
camp began
was Brandon
Francisco,
(third round
pick a year
ago).”
Galchenyuk
scored the
nicest goal
of the
evening as
he whipped a
wrist shot
into the top
corner from
the top of
the slot.
The goal
came early
in the third
period
snapping a
3-2 lead. It
put the
Sting ahead
to stay the
rest of the
way.
“He’s got a
tremendous
shot and we
are trying
to get him
to use it
more,” said
MacQueen.
“That goal
was a
rocket. Alex
is getting
more
comfortable
with the
speed of
this league.
We’ve been
working with
him on being
more
explosive
through the
neutral zone
and he was
better
tonight.” |
He added, “Alex
still is learning
the defensive side
of the game. It’s
basically new to him
compared to where he
played last season.
But we all have to
remember to be
patient because he’s
just a young kid.”
Galchenyuk has quietly,
but efficiently scored
two goals and three
assists in four
exhibition games. He
played on a line with
Yakupov and Francisco.
“If
you want speed, that
threesome will give it
to you,” said MacQueen.
“I’m not sure if we will
keep them together
because they all want
the puck. But I think it
helped the confidence of
Francisco tonight to
play with the two
Russians.”
 |
Tyler Peters
added a goal
and two
assists for
the Sting.
He leads the
team in
scoring in
pre-season
with five
goals and
four
assists.
“He’s got to
score.
That’s what
he does
best,” said
MacQueen.
“If he
decides he
wants to be
a player he
can really
help us.
Tyler has to
learn to
come
prepared to
play every
night. If he
does that,
he can play
on our top
two lines.”
Craig Hottot
and
Francisco
rounded out
the scoring
for Sarnia
with his
second goal
in as many
games.
Brendan
McCann,
Derek Lanoue
and Eric
Locke scored
for Windsor.
The
Spitfires
dressed just
13 skaters
and two
goalies.
“I didn’t
like the
first half
of our
game,” said
MacQueen.
“I’m not
sure if we
got a lot
better in
the second
half or if
Windsor was
a little
exhausted.
But we
showed a
little bit
of a killer
instinct in
the third
period. |
“Execution and
systems-wise we got
better as the game went
on. We made a lot of
mental mistakes early
and that’s partly due to
not being comfortable
with our systems. But we
were a better team when
we got pucks deep and
got pucks to the net.”
Shayne Campbell saw his
first action of the
pre-season in goal for
the Sting allowing two
goals on 15 shots.
Rookie Brandon Hope
replaced Campbell midway
through period two and
gave up one goal on 12
shots.
Michael Nishi went the
distance in goal for
Windsor and faced 31
shots.
Sarnia led 2-1 after the
first period while the
teams were tied 2-2
after the second.
Windsor scored two power
play goals and Sarnia
one.
The
Sting will close out the
pre-season with two
games next weekend. They
host the Saginaw Spirit
Friday at 7:05 p.m. at
the RBC Centre while the
two teams play again
Saturday night in
Saginaw.
-
Galchenyuk was first
star with Peters
second star and
Windsor’s Alex
Khokhlachev third
star.
-
Sarnia had seven
players out of their
lineup. Four of
those players are
injured.
-
The Sting will open
the regular season
Sept. 24 when they
host Windsor at 7:05
p.m. at the RBC
Centre.
