Sarnia Sting Welcomes
Import Selections
By DAVE
BORODY
“When I saw
the whites of their eyes, I knew it was
real.”
Those were
the words of Dave MacQueen, head coach
and general manager of the Sarnia Sting
when announcing the team’s import
selections Nail Yakupov and Nickolas
Latta.
The pair was
introduced to the local media and Sting
fans at a media conference Friday at the
RBC Centre.
Yakupov, a
Russian, was taken second overall in the
Canadian Hockey League Import Draft back
in June while Latta, a German, was
selected in the second round.
“We were
very confident that both players would
be coming and are going to help our
team. Everyone knows the import draft
can be a crapshoot. We are excited that
both of them are here early. I’ve talked
to other general managers in the league
and they aren’t sure if their picks are
coming.”
MacQueen
added, “We understand how difficult it
is for European players coming to North
America. Coming here early they can
relax, meet their billets, meet people
in the organization and get used to
Sarnia. They will likely be on the ice a
few times and be ready for training
camp.”
 |
Yakupov is from Nizhnekamsk,
Russia. He stands five feet
10 inches and weighs 170
pounds. The talented forward
is currently the top rated
Russian with a 1993
birthdate by
Russianprospect.com.
He recently participated in
the 2010 Ivan Hlinka
Tournament in Slovakia where
he scored three goals and
two assists in five games.
He also competed in the same
tournament as a 15 year-old.
Yakupov took part in a media
interview using his agent
Igor Larionov as an
interpreter.
“I like the North American
style and the Ontario Hockey
League is the best junior
league in the world. It’s a
dream come true. I wanted to
be a leader on the team.”
He added, “there was some
pressure from the ice hockey
federation to stay in
Russia, but I decided it
would be better to come to
North America.”
Yakupov says Detroit and
Washington are his favourite
National Hockey League
teams. He says he doesn’t
have a favourite NHL player,
but knows most of the stars. |
When asked
what he expects from the OHL, he
responded in this fashion.
“I expect
fast-paced hockey. I know it is a
physical game and I’m ready for that. I
know I have to play against older
players and I have been doing that the
past two years. I don’t mind that
style.”
He arrived
in Toronto on Thursday.
“I don’t
know too much about Canada. I was stuck
in traffic leaving the airport. I know
the population if Sarnia is 70,000
people."
The
16-year-old has caught the eye of the
scouting world as evidenced by the
following report complied by the Red
Line Report. He is not eligible for the
NHL draft until 2012.
“Unbelievably advanced for a kid who’s
only 16. Exceptionally quick stick with
great hands and moves. Magician with the
puck, it just sticks to his blade. Hands
and feet are equally fast, can really
dangle with the puck and dance on his
skates. Very quick and agile skater who
accelerates quickly. Sneaky and shifty,
tough to contact or hit cleanly. Can
turn and change direction in a phone
booth. Sniper with good touch and
release around net, excellent hands in
close. Scores highlight reel goals.”
 |
Latta is also a 16 year-old
who stands five feet, 10
inches and 165 pounds. This
past season he played for SC
Riessersee in the top
Germain Junior League. He
produced at almost a
two-point per game clip. He
led his team in scoring with
31 goals and 31 assists in
34 games and was third
leading scorer in the
league.
Latta was scouted by Bill
Abercrombie of the Sting.
“Nickolas has good blood
lines as well as a local
connection to Sarnia. Both
his dad and uncle played in
the OHL and were both NHL
draft picks that had long
professional careers that
would take both of them to
Germany. Nick actually has
family in Sarnia that he
will be staying with this
season.”
Latta speaks fluent English.
“This is my first time in
Sarnia, but I knew where it
was located. I’ve been to
Thunder Bay several times to
visit relatives. It’s always
been a dream to play in
Canada. |
When Bill
(Abercrombie) came over to watch me play
and said he could get me to Sarnia, it
was a great opportunity.”
Latta added, “I like to score goals. I’m
a fast skater and use my speed. I don’t
mind taking the body. I’ve heard from my
dad and my uncle this is a tough
league.”
He said that
Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes is
his favourite NHL player because he met
him a couple of years ago in Thunder Bay
while the Toronto Maple Leafs are his
favourite team.
MacQueen
said he played with Nick’s dad in
Pinebridge, North Carolina. “The league
was so low on the pro level even the
Hockey News couldn’t find us,” joked
MacQueen.
MacQueen says the pair of Europeans are
just part of the puzzle in moving the
Sting forward.
“The Sting
has had a productive summer. It started
when we signed Trevor Letowski as an
assistant coach. I’m excited he is
joining our staff and what he has to
offer the players this season. We had a
good OHL league taking Alex Galchenyuk
with the first overall pick. Defenceman
Joe Rogalski was drafted in the sixth
round of the NHL draft by Pittsburgh,
while Brett Ritchie was part of the
Canadian gold medal team last week in
Slovakia. I talked to head coach George
Burnett and he told me Brett was not
only one of the best players on the
Canadian team, but in the entire
tournament.”
And finally
this week we acquired goalie John Cullen
from Kingston. We felt we needed an
older established goalie; we want to
have depth and competition at the
goalie’s position. I expect him to be
our number one guy.”
MacQueen
expects between 55 and 60 players to
report to the RBC Centre on August 31st.
On-ice sessions begin Sept. 1 at 8:30
a.m.
