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Sarnia, ON - After the eventful summer in Sarnia,
with new Head Coach Jacques Beaulieu revamping the
Sarnia Sting and brining in what seemed like an
endless stream of talent, the Sting opened their
training camp Monday at the RBC Centre, and now face
the task of having to put together a wining hockey
club.
"Were are
in a situation where we might have to many," said
Beaulieu about the depth of the Sarnia Sting. "We'll
have to see in the next few days who weeds
themselves out and try and make the 23 we are going
to keep for the season."
The list
of talent brought into the Sting includes NHL
draftee's Connor Murphy and Ludvig Rensfeldt, USA
development talent Reid Boucher, and draft picks
including Ryan Kujawinski, Anthony DeAngelo and
Davis Brown as well as talents such as Domenic
Alberga, Taylor Carnevale and goalie Brandon Maxwell
were brought in by trades will be added to Sting's
front goal scorers, Brett Ritchie, Nail Yakupov and
Alex Galchenyuk,
It's an
impressive lineup on paper, and now Beaulieu and his
staff will find the lines that work best while these
young players compete to make the 23 team roster.
"It's a
great problem for a coach to try and have kids
compete for a position," said Beaulieu. "Where as in
years past you were getting in by default."
The Sting
training camp featured two scrimmages and a look at
what could shape up to be the new Sarnia Sting
lineup heading into the season. On Team Stamkos,
their front line was highlighted by Yakupov and
Galchenyuk, with Reid Boucher fitting in the left
wing. On Team Wilson, Carnevale centred a line with
Ritchie and Rensfeldt, offering what could be
Sarnia's top 6 forwards, something Beaulieu was
working on in the offseason.
"I wanted
the top end guys to compete against each other,"
said Beaulieu. "I think its healthy, and you're not
playing a 16 year old against a 20 year old.
Yakupov
and Galchenyuk scored four of the Team Stamkos 7
goals in the afternoon scrimmage, while Renseldt and
Ritchie contributed 2 for Team Wilson.
With the
top six forwards seemingly locked away, the bottom
half of the roster will be a stiff competition.
Beaulieu commented earlier that his third line would
be a checking line, following by a fourth line of
prospects. Alberga, Craig Hottot and Justin Thomas
were noted as a possible third line, but with so
much depth coming into camp, nothing can be set in
stone.
Sarnia's
talent will have a chance to showcase their ability
in the annual Black and White game on Tuesday,
August 30th, and Sarnia's home and home with London
on September 2nd and 3rd.
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