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The Sarnia Sting will start next season without a single player who’s been in the OHL playoffs with the team.
Published Mar 19, 2026 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 3 minute read
Sarnia Sting’s Mitch Young (5) checks Erie Otters’ Kase Kamzik (34) at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia, Ont., on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Mark Malone/Postmedia Network)Article content
The Sarnia Sting will start next season without a single player who’s been in the OHL playoffs with the team.
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Over-age defenceman Mitch Young – the last remaining link to the Sting’s 2023 Western Conference finalists – is set to play his final game Saturday in Saginaw.
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Young doesn’t see the three-year playoff drought lasting much longer.
“I think they’re set up real well,” Young said, pointing to Alessandro Di Iorio. “Our captain, a 17-year-old, a potential (NHL) first-round pick, going to be a 100-point player in this league. Just an amazing person, an amazing leader.
“With him at the helm, I think this group is really on the upward trend.”
Young and fellow over-ager Ben Pickell celebrated a 6-3 win over the Erie Otters in their final home game Wednesday before 4,132 fans at Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
“To leave them on a good note coming into next season and promise them that more wins will come was great,” Young said.
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A handful of fans waved homemade signs for Pickell. He was happy to make an impact during his lone season in Sarnia.
“It’s very special,” he said. “It shows how much the fans support us and care every night.
“Growing up, it’s something you look forward to and that’s what you dream of. It’s everything I could ask for. The fans are nothing but good to us.”
The Sting’s third over-ager, forward Jordan Bax, didn’t play Wednesday. He ends the season on the injured list.
The win snapped a season-worst seven-game skid and clinched ninth place in the Western Conference. The Sting finish above only the Otters, who have lost 13 in a row.
“Not the year we wanted, but the fans showed out every night,” said Pickell, who scored the winning goal. “You really can’t ask for much more.
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“Obviously I wish I’d spent a couple more years here to get that playoff run, but it was super special for us. We wish we had Baxy out there, but … (I was) super fortunate to have these two guys beside me out there.”
The Sting end the schedule with two road games. They were slated to visit the Western-leading Kitchener Rangers Friday before travelling to Saginaw.
“For us (as over-agers), unfortunately they don’t mean much,” Pickell said, “but it could be a look for next year for guys and tryouts. We’ve just got to preach the good habits and the details and hopefully get a few more wins and have something to look forward to next year.”
Young will leave Sarnia with many good memories.
“There’s a whole bunch, four years full of them,” he said. “My first year coming in and having that playoff run, that group of guys was really special.
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“And obviously every year after that, the boys along the way are impacting my life like crazy, so all the memories (of) hanging out with the team in the dressing room and playing in front of these fans, I’m going to remember it all.”
When the Sting get back to the post-season, Young wants them to play with confidence.
“Playing in front of the fans in the playoffs gives you that little bit of adrenaline, so maybe you’re a little bit too hyped up,” he said. “Just calm your nerves a little bit, make the plays that you want to make and that you normally would make, and then once you get into the game, it all just flows from there.”
On Wednesday, Tyler Challenger scored two goals, including an empty-netter when the Sting were clinging to a 4-3 lead.
Liam Beamish, Carson Hall and Jacob Reese added singles.
Patrick Quinlan made 24 saves. He also received the Sting’s Three Stars Cup for earning the most points this season in the post-game star selection.
Luc Plante, Callum Hughes and Tyler Cooper scored for the Otters. Noah Erliden made 33 saves.
Erie Otters’ Evan Headrick (81) is pursued by Sarnia Sting’s Ben Pickell (12) and Kaden Aucoin (33). (Mark Malone/Postmedia Network)
Erie Otters’ Callum Hughes (9) shoots on Sarnia Sting goalie Patrick Quinlan. (Mark Malone/Postmedia Network)
Sarnia Sting’s Ben Pickell, right, drives to the net ahead of Erie Otters’ Julius Saari. (Mark Malone/Postmedia Network)
Erie Otters’ AJ Gladman, left, checks Sarnia Sting’s Carson Hall. (Mark Malone/Postmedia Network)
Erie Otters goalie Noah Erliden bumps Sarnia Sting’s Liam Beamish. (Mark Malone/Postmedia Network)
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