Sting defeat 67s
with Latta leading the way
DAVE BORODY
November
7th, 2010
Forward Nick Latta is often referred to as “the
other” player taken in the Canadian Hockey League
import draft by the Sarnia Sting after Nail
Yakupov.However, after a slow start, the German-born
Latta is starting to show his talents.
Latta had a goal and added an assist in leading the
Sting to a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa 67s, Saturday
night before 2,847 fans at the RBC Centre. The win
moved the Sting back to the .500 mark in the Ontario
Hockey League at 8-8-2-0.
Latta has dressed for 16 games, but at times saw
limited ice time. But he quietly still has
accumulated five goals and two assists.
“I’m getting used to everything here in Canada,”
said Latta, who was named the game’s first star.
“The speed of the game is different that what I was
used to and also the smaller rinks. But things are
getting better for me every game.”
Latta liked the way the Sting responded after losing
to Saginaw on Friday night.
“That was a tough game to lose against Saginaw and
it was important to bounce back. I thought the team
was ready to go and we were motivated because Ottawa
is a good team.”
Sting head coach Dave MacQueen liked the way Latta
played. “Even in the Soo on Wednesday he was good,
but tonight was the best game I’ve seen him play
this season. He was hard on the puck. He has a nose
for the net and creating opportunities. He continues
to move forward and will earn more ice time.”
Latta played on the “fourth line” with Garrett Hooey
and newcomer Dean Pawlaczyk and the trio provided a
lot of energy and minutes.
“With our third and fourth lines it’s a process,”
said MacQueen. “We aren’t going to match those lines
up with their top lines or put them in positions to
fail. They played well defensively and when that
happens you are going to get them out there.”
He added, “With young players it’s a trust factor.
When you can trust them defensively you can play
them more. It’s tough, but again it’s that process
for everybody.”
Sarnia led 2-1 after the first period and 3-1 after
the second. Despite having the game’s opening four
power plays, Sarnia took a 2-0 lead with the teams
at even strength. Kale Kerbashian opened the scoring
at 4:50 with his 11th of the year as he banged home
a centering pass from Nail Yakupov. (Kerbashian now
has at least one point in 10 consecutive games).
Craig Hottot staked the Sting to a 2-0 advantage at
12:05 with his fourth of the year as he backhanded a
shot from close range. The puck came off the
backboards right to Hottot who slipped the puck past
a surprised 67s goalie, Shayne Campbell.
Ottawa cut the lead at 15:45 on the power play as
Thomas Nesbitt drilled home a low slapshot between
the legs of Sting goalie John Cullen. Cullen would
prove to be unbeatable after that as he made 28
saves.
Sarnia scored the only goal of the second period at
11:47 when Brandon Francisco tipped home a goalmouth
pass from Brett Ritchie. For Francisco it was his
eighth goal of the year and fifth over his past
three games.
After three solid saves by Cullen early in the third
period, Latta put the game on ice for the Sting with
eight minutes remaining as he knocked in a loose
puck after a wild scramble around the Ottawa goal.
“Tonight we played better defensively and that was
our goal,” said MacQueen. “We are still making some
mistakes we need to correct. Ottawa is a good hockey
club and we needed to be ready to play. It was a
pretty solid game. John Cullen made the saves when
he had to and we found a way to win against a pretty
good team.” MacQueen said the game was different
than against Saginaw.
“Saginaw plays a run and gun high octane style of
game. Ottawa is tighter checking and didn’t give us
a lot. We were patient and didn’t try and force the
play and were rewarded with some goals.”
Sarnia was zero-for-seven on the power play and
again almost gave up a shorthanded goal. The Sting
has allowed seven shorthanded goals, the most in the
league.
“We have to be more aware and need to do a better
job of making better decisions when we enter the
offensive zone. We seem to be trying and force the
puck to areas where we shouldn’t. When that happens
we get into trouble.”
Ex-Sting goalie Shayne Campbell made 23 stops in his
return to Sarnia. Ottawa was one-for-five with the
man advantage. The Sting now prepare for a
three-game road trip as they play Friday night in
Ottawa, Saturday in Belleville and Sunday afternoon
in Kingston.
“We need to do this trip at some point and now is a
good a time as any. We play three games in two and a
half days against some good teams. One of those
games will be on the big ice in Belleville. We have
to make sure we are prepared by having a good week
of practice,” MacQueen said.
Sarnia’s next home game is not until Nov. 19th when
they host Saginaw at 7:05 p.m.
STING NOTES
- Latta was first star with Cullen second star and
Alex Galchenyuk third star. Galchenyuk and Yakupov
had two assists
each.
- The two points gives Yakupov 31 on the season and
propelled him back into the OHL scoring lead.
- Scratches for the Sting included Kyle Flemington,
J.C. Campagna and Ryan Zupancic, all numbers.
- Pawlaczyk played his first game at the RBC Centre
since acquired in a trade from Barrie. He was
involved in a second period fight where he got the
best of his opponent.
- Sarnia improved to 6-4-0-0 on home ice while
Ottawa is now 7-4-0-0 on the road.
|