Sarnia Sting head coach Dave MacQueen knows there are going to be some tough nights this season in the Ontario Hockey League.
“I just didn’t think it would be this bad.”

MacQueen  watched his team drop a 9-3 decision to the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, Saturday night before 2,707 fans at the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre.

The loss dropped Sarnia’s record to 1-2-1-0.

Sarnia held a 3-2 lead early in the second period before the Majors exploded for seven unanswered goals, four in the second period and three more in the third.

“I think after our third goal we forgot about everything. We forgot how to chip pucks in, chip pucks out and how to take the man. We know that when things go south with a young team, they go south in a hurry.”

MacQueen added, “we got off to such a good start and were doing a lot of good things. But St. Michael’s is ranked one of the top 10 teams in Canada for a reason. But we won’t dwell on it, but move forward next week.”

The Sting jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on a pair of power play goals, just over a minute apart. Ben O’Quinn recorded his second goal of the season from close range while Kale Kerbashian scored his first goal in a Sting uniform  knocking in a rebound.  The Majors tied the game with goals at 5:57 by Corey Bureau and Devonte Smith-Pelly on a power play at 19:17.  Sarnia took the lead again at 3:23 of period two on a power play when Brent Sullivan drilled home a high, hard slapshot from the point.

But it was all St. Michael’s after that. They tied the game at 3-3 at 6:49 on a power play goal by William Wallen. That goal chased Sting starting goalie Shayne Campbell, who allowed  three goals on 16 shots.  Campbell was replaced by Jesse Raymond, but did not fare much better.

Blake Parlett put St. Michael’s ahead for good at 12:10 while Joseph Cramarossa and Jordan Mayer scored before the period ended to give the Majors a commanding 6-3 lead after two periods.

One of those goals was a shorthanded marker, It marked the third shorthanded goal the Sting has allowed this season. “Absolutely,” said MacQueen, when asked if the shorthanded goals were a concern. “Those goals are momentum changers. It kills any momentum you might have. We are using some young players on our second unit, but we have to learn we can’t leave our defence and goalie out to dry.”

St. Michael’s continued to pour on the offence in the third period with goals from Casey Cizikas, Brandan McCann and Wallen with his second of the game. The Majors held a 34-23 edge in shots on goal with J.P. Anderson getting the win in goal.

MacQueen says his team can learn from this game.
“I know we are a resilient bunch and will be ready to play Thursday night. We will have some good practices next week, watch some tape and correct the mistakes we made tonight. The mistakes we made can be corrected. We need to get everyone on the same page. Our young guys have to realize this is a tough league and when you make a simple mistake the puck will wind up in our net.”

The Sting resume action on Thursday when they host the London Knights beginning at 7:35 p.m.

• Ex-Sting Gregg Sutch is out of the Majors lineup for a month after suffering a high ankle sprain in the team’s final pre-season game. Sutch said he hit a rut in the ice and tore some ligaments in his ankle.

• Kerbashian, who has part of a trade involving Sutch and St. Michael’s in the off-season, shares the Sting scoring lead with O’Quinn and Steve Reese, all with four points apiece. Reese assisted on two of the three Sting goals against the Majors.

• Forward Brett Appio missed his second straight game for the Sting with a hip injury. He is expected to be ready to play next week. Overage forward Kyle Neuber, also acquired in the St. Michael’s trade, has been given clearance by the doctors to play. Neuber required surgery in the off-season for a hand injury.

• The Sting wore special jerseys honouring the 1950-51 Sarnia Sailors Junior B team who won an Ontario championship that year. Several members of the team were introduced in pre-game ceremonies.