Sarnia Sting players and prospects are all settled in as training camp continues with on ice sessions Tuesday.
Camp officially opened Monday with player registration and fitness testing, but players will hit the ice for the first time Tuesday morning.
The morning consists of a pair practices before a scrimmage at 7pm Tuesday night. Another scrimmage is scheduled for Wednesday morning before the annual Black and White Game at 7pm Wednesday evening in support of the United Way.
General Manager Nick Sinclair says with several roster spots on the line, he expects a very competitive camp.
"It's not an easy process by any means, but we'll see each guy on the ice four or five times over the next couple days so it will give us a good look at each prospect," says Sinclair. "Obviously we're not looking to fill 22 roster spots for the upcoming season, but there will be a handful of openings that guys will be fighting for."
Sarnia Sting Head Coach Derian Hatcher, 2017 first round draft pick Jamieson Rees, Sting GM Nick Sinclair Associate Coach David Legwand.
There will be plenty of interest in Jamieson Rees, who was taken by the Sting ninth overall in the most recent OHL draft. Rees highlights a young crop of young Sting talent, as fellow 2017 draft picks Alexandre Hogue, Brayden Guy and Justin McCombs, as all three could very well wind up on the Sting roster.
Sinclair says it's important for guys to play their game, and do what's made them successful in their careers so far.
"Players have to come in and be themselves, nobody is going to make the team by trying to be someone they're not, it's only going to have a negative impact," says Sinclair. "Guys have to come in and play hard, show that they are committed to the program."
"It's a crowded crease at camp as several worthy goaltenders are competing for two roster spots. Entering his fourth and final OHL season, the starter's job is likely Justin Fazio's to lose. He played in 52 games last year, while Aiden Hughes suited up for 21 games during his first full season in the OHL. Hughes starts camp penciled into the back up spot, and although Sinclair says he's looking forward to see how Hughes performs after one OHL season under his belt, he'll have some competition in the rearview mirror."
"Blair Coffin spent a bit of time with us last year, and we expect he'll be pushing hard for a roster spot at camp," says Sinclair. "Another guy we'll keep an eye on is Ethan Langevin, who's proven to be one of the top goalies of his age group, and looked very good at Hockey Canada's Under-17 camp in July. We're really excited about the quality of goaltending at camp."
Also in the mix is Jakob Knowles, who played for the Lambton Jr Sting Major Midget 'AAA' team last season. The Sting selected him in the fourteenth round of the 2016 OHL draft.
Sinclair says there is no exact blueprint for when they will make their first round of cuts, but doesn't expect to release any players until Wednesday morning at the earliest.
Earlier in August, the Sting announce that David Legwand would be joining the team in an official capacity this season as he makes the move behind the bench as the new associate coach.
Team White and Team Black rosters:
Rosters for the Sarnia Sting's 2017 Training Camp.