Jack Van Volsen had the perfect night for his first OHL hat trick.<\/p>\n
Published Jan 10, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0hour ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
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Sarnia Sting’s Jack Van Volsen plays against the Erie Otters at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia on Friday. (Mark Malone\/ Postmedia Network)Article content<\/p>\n
Jack Van Volsen had the perfect night for his first OHL hat trick.<\/p>\n
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The Sarnia Sting celebrated country night Friday by giving cowboy hats to the first 1,500 fans. Many were tossed onto the ice after Van Volsen scored his third goal.<\/p>\n
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\u201cOver my three-and-a-half years I\u2019ve had a lot of two-goal games, so it\u2019s nice to finally get a hat trick under the belt,\u201d the 19-year-old forward said.<\/p>\n
His milestone goal gave the Sting a 5-1 lead over the Erie Otters midway through the second period. But they weren\u2019t done, not by a long shot.<\/p>\n
The Sting enjoyed their highest-scoring game of the season in a 9-1 win in front of 3,517 fans at Progressive Auto Sales Arena.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a good team effort all 60 minutes,\u201d said Van Volsen, who has nine two-goal games. \u201cThat was something we focused on. It was good that everyone brought it for a full 60 and we started on time tonight, which I think was big.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Ben Pickell added a goal and two assists. Jordan Bax, Hunter Solomon, Easton Walos, Jacob Reese and Brenner Lammens also scored.<\/p>\n
Patrick Quinlan made 19 saves as the Sting outshot the Otters 47-20.<\/p>\n
Van Volsen doesn\u2019t want the Sting getting too high after their second win in nine games. He wants them back on an even keel for Sunday\u2019s visit from the Kingston Frontenacs.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously it was a big night for us,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can enjoy it a little bit tonight, but then practise tomorrow and it\u2019s a new day Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n
TRADE DEADLINE: Players were relieved when the OHL trade deadline passed at noon Friday. The Sting made no moves all week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always a hectic time of year for everyone,\u201d Van Volsen said. \u201cNobody really knows what\u2019s happening. A lot of new guys on the team, a lot of new guys in the league, so guys don\u2019t really know how it works. I was lucky. This is my fourth one, so I have an understanding for it.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI feel like everyone (had) just a little weight off their shoulders. It\u2019s like everyone knows that they\u2019re going to be here for the rest of the year. I feel like everyone can play a little bit more free.\u201d<\/p>\n
General manager Dylan Seca remains confident the Sting can escape the Western Conference basement and make the playoffs. They\u2019re six points behind the eighth-place Saginaw Spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything is steering towards letting this group of players reach their potential, which we believe is going to put us in a playoff spot,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then that experience allows us to really push for next season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seca wanted to trade for a defenceman to replace the recently retired James Barr, but he said teams wanted too much in return.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe definitely wanted to make the team better, but we couldn\u2019t give away assets just to do it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He expects to soon announce the signing of a free agent defenceman.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll give us the depth that we need,\u201d Seca said.<\/p>\n
BOUNCEBACK WIN: The Sting saw Friday as a chance to bounce back from not only Wednesday\u2019s 7-4 loss in Flint, but also a loss to Owen Sound in their last home game, Van Volsen said.<\/p>\n
Plus, they wanted payback after losing in Erie last month.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey stomped us, so we owed them one,\u201d Van Volsen said. \u201c\u2026 They were giving it to us every time they scored. I think it was a good effort (tonight) and just a good bounceback game for momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sting own a 75-29 shots advantage in their last five periods, going back to Wednesday\u2019s loss to the Western Conference-leading Firebirds.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ve just got to use it to our advantage and be ready for Sunday,\u201d Van Volsen said.<\/p>\n
NOTES: Before Friday, the Sting had only three periods all season in which they outscored an opponent by three or more goals. They did it twice Friday, outscoring the Otters 5-0 in the second and 3-0 in the third. \u2026 Tyler Cooper staked the Otters to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period, but Bax replied two minutes later. \u2026 Defenceman Cameron Aucoin had a plus-seven rating and one assist. \u2026 Quinlan also had one assist as 15 Sting players hit the scoresheet. \u2026 Rookie forward Sarvir Jaworski was called up from the Sarnia Legionnaires and celebrated his first win in 30 games this season. He\u2019d been 0-1 with the Sting and 0-28 with the winless Legionnaires. \u2026 Solomon returned to action after missing two games with an injury. Injured forward Logan Hawery is week to week, Seca said. \u2026 Otters starter Noah Erliden gave up six goals on 32 shots in two periods. Charlie Burns allowed three more on 15 shots in the third. \u2026 The Otters are one point ahead of the Sting in ninth place. \u2026 The Otters also lost 9-1 Thursday in Windsor.<\/p>\n
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Sarnia Sting\u2019s Jack Van Volsen knocks down Erie Otters\u2019 Michael D\u2019Alessio while battling for the puck Friday at Progressive Auto Sales Arena. (Mark Malone\/Postmedia Network)![\"Sarnia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CDN20260109MM05small-e1768043791536.jpg\")
Sarnia Sting\u2019s Beckham Edwards passes the puck away from Erie Otters\u2019 Jake Murray. (Mark Malone\/Postmedia Network)![\"Sarnia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CDN20260109MM06small-e1768043890221.jpg\")
Sarnia Sting\u2019s Ben Pickell is pursued by Erie Otters\u2019 Michael D\u2019Alessio. (Mark Malone\/Postmedia Network)![\"Sarnia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CDN20260109MM01small-e1768043948380.jpg\")
Sarnia Sting\u2019s Jacob Reese checks Erie Otters\u2019 Lucas Ambrosio. (Mark Malone\/Postmedia Network)![\"Sarnia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CDN20260109MM03small-e1768043736655.jpg\")
Sarnia Sting\u2019s Mitch Young manoeuvres past Erie Otters\u2019 Julius Saari. (Mark Malone\/Postmedia Network)<\/p>\n
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