Much of the
focus on the
Sarnia Sting
this season
is on the
good, young
talent the
team has
secured
through the
draft.
But there
needs to be
some veteran
leadership
to guide the
young
players
through the
highs and
lows of an
Ontario
Hockey
League
season.
One of the
players the
Sting is
counting on
for that
leadership
is
defenceman
Brent
Sullivan.
In fact
Sullivan
begins the
season as
the oldest
player on
the team.
The overager
is currently
20 and will
turn 21 on
Jan. 8.
“It’s
different,
that’s for
sure,” said
Sullivan,
when asked
about being
the oldest
player on
the team.
“Obviously I
haven’t gone
through this
before, but
I know it
brings
responsibility
and
leadership
to the team.
I’m excited
about it.”
Sullivan
begins his
fourth
season
wearing the
gold, black
and white
uniform of
the Sting.
He will be
in the
lineup
Friday night
when they
Sting open
their
regular
season
hosting the
Windsor
Spitfires.
Game time is
7:05 p.m. at
the RBC
Centre.
“Being here
for that
amount of
time I’ve
seen a lot
as a player.
For me
personally
I’ve had a
lot of highs
and lows,
especially
with
injuries and
also watched
the team go
through
highs and
lows. My job
now is to
help the
young
players get
through both
the good and
bad times.”
Sullivan
says he has
been blessed
with the
leadership
he’s played
under.
“In my three
years as a
player, I’ve
been lucky
to have Ryan
Wilson, Matt
Martin and
Jordan Hill
as captains.
They taught
me to keep a
level head
and work
hard all the
time. There
are young
guys who are
on your
heels all
the time.”
The six
foot, three
inch,
195-pound
rearguard
from Carp,
says his
time with
the Sting
has flown
by.
“It’s funny
because when
I came here
as a 16
year-old, I
remember the
20
years-olds
talking
about how
your junior
career just
flies by. I
really
didn’t
listen much.
But they
were right.
It’s going
to be an
emotional
year for me,
but
certainly
one I’m
looking
forward to.”
That’s
because
Sullivan has
had to
overcome
injuries the
past two
seasons and
has not
played as
many games
as he would
have liked
to.
“I’ve never
felt better.
As it turned
out, it was
probably a
positive
thing I took
six months
off. That
really
seemed to
benefit me.
There’s no
doubt it was
frustrating,
but I’ve
turned over
a new page.”
Sting head
coach and
general
manager Dave
MacQueen is
pleased to
have
Sullivan
back in his
lineup.
“I honestly
believe he
can be a
top-end
defenceman
in our
league. He’s
a big guy
who can move
the puck and
put points
on the
board. We
need that
and also he
can be a
valuable
leader off
the ice.”
MacQueen
added,
“Before he
got hurt
last year he
was playing
some of the
best hockey
of his
career. We
will be
young again
this year,
but you
can’t have
all young
guys. You
need
confidence
both on the
ice and in
the dressing
room. I’m
confident
Brent will
be
everything
we expect
and then
some.”
Sullivan
says the
Sting may
surprise
some people
this season.
“The Sting
has been
able to get
some
excellent
players with
their high
draft picks.
Unfortunately
I won’t be
able to see
them all
develop
because over
the next few
years this
team is
going to
contend for
a
championship.
It couldn’t
have
happened to
a nicer
city.”
He added,
“Ever since
my first
year with
Steve
Stamkos,
this is the
most
talented
team I’ve
been on. We
are a dark
horse, but
we are going
to surprise
a lot of
people. We
are going to
fly under
the radar
and that’s
fine. We
will sneak
up on
teams.”
Sullivan
says new
assistant
coach,
Trevor
Letowski,
who is
handling the
defence,
will be
great for
the team.
“He’s a
great guy
and a nice
person. He
knows his
stuff. He’s
only been
out of pro
hockey for
months. We
all know
it’s hard to
replace a
guy like
Greg
Walters, but
Trevor is
close as you
can get.
It’s going
to be
exciting for
him and us.
We can help
one
another.”
-
There are a
number of
special
activities
to kick off
the regular
season.
There will
be a
barbeque
outside of
Gate 5
between five
and 7 p.m. A
jumbo hot
dog and pop
is just $5.
The
ever-popular
buffet is
returning to
Coyote
Jack’s
Restaurant
inside the
RBC Centre.
Friday
night’s menu
will feature
tender roast
beef, oven
roasted
potatoes,
Yorkshire
pudding,
chef’s
veggie
choices, a
selection of
salads, soup
of the day
and
delectable
desserts.
All for only
$13.99 plus
tax.
-
After the
game former
NHLer Kraig
Nienhuis
will be
performing
at Coyote
Jacks.
-
The Sting’s
car giveaway
will take
place during
the first
intermission.
Anyone who
has
purchased a
season
ticket or
flex pack by
noon Friday
is eligible
to win.
-
With the
player moves
earlier this
week the
Sting
currently
has 13
forwards,
eight
defencemen
and two
goalies.
Defenceman
Kyle
Flemington
begins a
five-game
suspension.
-
The OHL
announced
this week
for the
first time
in several
years there
will be no
league
all-star
game this
year.
-
Sarnia’s
other game
this week is
Saturday
when they
travel to
London to
face the
Knights. The
Sting will
be home
twice next
weekend.