Defenceman Anthony Donati wants to get more ice time playing on the Sarnia Sting blue line.

With three defencemen now out of the lineup, Donati and his teammates will get lots of playing time this weekend when the Sting play a pair of home games.
 

The Sting hosts the Brampton Battalion Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. and takes on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. at the RBC Centre.
 

Sarnia currently sports a 4-7-2-0 record in the Ontario Hockey League.

"It's not the best way to get into the lineup with the guys out, but it's nice to get a lot of minutes," said Donati, now into his second season with the Sting. "I know I feel and play better when I get more ice time."
 

Currently Ron Soucie and Kyle Flemington are on suspension while Sting captain Nathan Chiarlitti suffered a concussion on Wednesday night in Saginaw when he was slammed into the end boards early in the second period.

Chiarlitti was taken to hospital after the second period for x-rays, but they were negative and he returned home on the team bus. Chiarlitti, sporting a nasty black eye, is out indefinitely.
 

The Sting is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the first place Saginaw Spirit; a game that head coach Dave MacQueen called one of his team's best efforts all season.
 

"I thought it was our best game of the year," said Donati. "Our work ethic was the best so far. We got a point and even though we're disappointed we didn't get two, we need to build off that. If we play every game like that, we will be fine."
 

So what did the Sting do against Saginaw that they hadn't done in previous games?
 

"We were doing the little things," claims Donati. We didn't have a lot of turnovers at either blue line and we executed a good fore check. We were getting to the puck first and that created more turnovers."
 

He added, "We had almost 40 shots on goal and that's something that hasn't happened for awhile. We played pretty good defensively, were blocking shots and moving the puck. Our defensive corps as a unit played strong against a real good team."
 

As for his style of game, Donati says, "I want to be an all-around player and be offensive, but I need to take care of my own end first and then pick my spots to go on the offence."
 

Sarnia has struggled the past couple of weeks, although they have posted a 1-1-1 record against the top two teams in the Western Conference, (Saginaw and Owen Sound), over the past three games.
 

"We aren't that bad," says Donati. "Except for that game in Owen Sound we've been in all the games. I think we had a stretch where we lost five games by two goals or less. We just need to find a way to win those games instead of losing them. We need to play a full 60 minutes and come to the rink with the same work ethic we displayed against Saginaw."
 

STING NOTES

-         Brampton's visit is their only game in Sarnia this season as they play in the Eastern Conference. Sarnia and Sault Ste. Marie meet for the third time this season on Sunday with the Sting hold a 2-0 advantage. The two clubs play eight times, including next Wednesday in Sault Ste. Marie.

-         Fans are reminded that for Sunday's game all kids under 12 will be admitted for just $5. Kids (of all ages) are also encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to the game Sunday as there will be prizes awarded throughout the game.

- The buffet menu's in Coyote Jack's are as follows: Saturday night will be an Octoberfest buffet and on Sunday there will be a "Sunday Brunch" - call 519-541-1000 ext 109 to make reservations.
 

-         There will be a special draw at Saturday's game for one season ticket holder and one general public ticket holder. The draws will consist of two Hockey Hall of Fame admission passes for both Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 7.

The packages include two reserved seats for both of Saturday's Tales of the Cup Fan Forums (11 a.m.-2 p.m.), hosted by Keeper of the Cup, Phil Pritchard with special guest, former Toronto Maple Leafs star, Ron Ellis and ex-coach Scotty Bowman.

Two reserved seats for Sunday's RBC Inductee Fan Forum (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.). The Hall's newest inductees, Sarnia's Dino Ciccarelli, Jim Devellano, Cammi Granato and Angela James will be on hand for a question and answer fan forum.

Two limited edition 2010 Inductee Prints, autographed by the 2010 inductees, two Source for Sports Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic lower bowl tickets for Sunday's game at the Air Canada Centre, beginning at 2 p.m.

The package also includes a Dino Ciccarelli Red Wings jersey and hotel accommodations in Toronto. (Ciccarelli is part owner of the Sting).

The draw will be made in the third period of Saturday's game. There will be ballot boxes throughout the concourse at the RBC Centre.

-         Sting fans will have to wait a little longer to see the team's newest player, forward Dean Pawlaczyk.  He picked up a two-game suspension against Saginaw for being the second fight on the same stoppage.