A former Sarnia Sting has taken over the club's head coaching duties.
The Sting introduced Alan Letang as its new bench boss Tuesday during a press conference at Sarnia Golf & Curling Club.
Letang, 45, played for the Sting during the team's inaugural season in Sarnia in 1994-95, and has called Sarnia home for 20-plus years.
Letang, who stepped down as the head coach of the Owen Sound Attack this month, said he's happy to be back with the Sting.
"It's exciting. I'm humbled to come back and get this opportunity and I can't thank the people from Sarnia enough. And I have to thank the people in Owen Sound -- they were so understanding when I made the decision to see if I could pursue it and they were in complete support of me. So I just look forward to this new opportunity, this new challenge, and it's nice to just be talking hockey again."
Letang takes over for Sting Co-Owner Derian Hatcher, who stepped down from the head coaching role earlier this month.
Letang discussed what Sting fans can expect to see on the ice this season.
"I like to play a very puck-possession game. We're going to stress puck movement, and kids need to feel comfortable trying stuff on the ice and they need to know that you don't just have to get rid of the puck right away, we can make plays. We're going to force kids to get outside their comfort zone, and that's where you develop. We'll be a hard team to play against, just a team that's prepared and comes every night to compete."
Letang said he knows the steep hockey history and passion the city and the Sting have.
"It's being around Sarnia, knowing the community, knowing the people in the community. I've got my job with the Sting, but I've also got an opportunity to get out, talk to other coaches in the community, talk to other kids and immerse myself in the community. Sarnia's got a great history of players that have come through here and we should be proud of that and really get back to focusing on that development."
Letang will be joined by Associate Coach Brad Staubitz and Assistant Coach Mark Mancari behind the bench when the 2021-22 season gets going October 7.
Off the ice, Letang spends his time with his wife Krystie, and children Ayden and Aiva. Ayden played for Sarnia Legionnaires during the club's 2019-2020 campaign.
-With files from Josh Boyce
https://twitter.com/StingHockey/status/1407355242719612934