DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: Sarnia Sting

  • Game Report – Soo Greyhounds 3 vs Sarnia Sting 4 – September 19th, 2026

    The Greyhounds hosted the Sting for the second game of their 4-game homestand. As Sarnia opened up their season, 7 of their players played in their first OHL games.

    The Greyhounds started off the scoring again in this one. Ryan Kaczynski would get his 2nd and 3rd goals of the season just a minute apart, midway through the first. Sarnia would answer back with one from Simon  Katolicky to register his first OHL goal. The Hounds capitalized on another Sting penalty. Scoring their second power-play goal with Kaczynski getting his 3rd goal to complete the hat trick.  Following the Hounds’ goal to make it 3-1, the game would be turned on its head. The  Greyhounds would get themselves in penalty trouble, and the Sting would take full advantage.  Though after 6 straight Soo penalties and 3 Sarnia power-play goals, the boos and chants would rain down against the officials. In the final few minutes, the Greyhounds were pushing, but their comeback efforts would fail. Inscribing a 4-3 Sarnia Sting win. 

    Ryan Kaczynski – The Hat Trick is obviously the talking point about Kaczynski’s game, but what really impressed me was the variety of all 3. His first was a deflection off the goalie’s stick, then a breakaway after capitalizing on a mistake and tapping it in where he was in the perfect spot for a Trevor Daley Pass. He already has an NHL frame, and if he can continue developing, he will be in consideration for the top few rounds of this year’s NHL Draft. 

    Jaden Licastro – It was not easy getting a read on many Soo players with all the penalties, but another player that did stand out specifically in the first part of the game was Hounds first-rounder Jaden Licastro. He is able to evade pressure with ease and use his skating to get him out of tough situations. His powerful and quick strides were very evident. Having such a good stride at his young age is special. 

    Adrian Sgro – The most recent 2026 OHL fourth overall pick made his debut vs the Hounds Saturday. Like many rookies, Sgro struggled in the first period of this one. He caused a couple of turnovers and was still getting used to the speed, however, when he got through his first couple shifts, the game seemed to slow way down. He was able to make the simple low-risk plays with little issue; he didn’t force any Hail Mary plays. He is a very high IQ player; he just needs more time to showcase his skating, which is another one of his strengths.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Beckham Edwards (C)

    Beckham Edwards #81, F 

    Sarnia Sting

    6’2”, 184 lbs, DOB 2008-01-06

    From the opening puck drop, Edwards showed strong pace and engagement. He was consistently involved in transition play, using quick acceleration to push defenders back and create space for his linemates. A key element of his performance came at the face-off dot, where Edwards won 70% of his draws, consistently giving his team first possession. His technique was clean and decisive, showing good timing and hand speed. This strength directly contributed to the tying goal when Edwards won a neutral zone face-off cleanly back to his defenseman, who then dumped it off the stanchion, and a teammate was there to put the puck in. It was a strong example of how his work in the face-off circle can translate into immediate offensive opportunities. Offensively, Edwards demonstrated a knack for finding soft spots in coverage. Throughout the game, he positioned himself well in the offensive zone, supporting puck carriers and presenting as a passing option. His awareness without the puck was a key driver of his effectiveness, particularly on extended possessions. With the puck, Edwards played a smart, controlled game. He didn’t force high-risk plays but showed the ability to make quick, accurate decisions under pressure. His passing was crisp, and he displayed good vision, especially on cross-ice sequences and in cycling situations. On the game-winning goal, Edwards read the play developing on the power play, timing his route to exploit a gap in the defense. He received the puck and executed a confident finish, showing his patience in a high-pressure moment. The goal itself reflected his hockey IQ as much as his technical skill. Defensively, Edwards was responsible and engaged. He tracked back effectively and showed a willingness to support low in the zone, even saving a goal on the line. While not overly physical, he competed along the boards and used positioning to disrupt plays.

    Edwards projects as a reliable, intelligent forward who can contribute to key moments. His strengths lie in his awareness, decision-making, and ability to execute under pressure. His strong face-off ability adds tangible value, as seen on the tying goal. Continued development in physicality and explosiveness would further elevate his ceiling.

    Skater Category Summarization:

    Skating: 6

    Puck Skill: 6

    Scoring Ability: 6

    Hockey IQ: 6

    Character: 6

    Physicality: 4

    Defensive Play: 5

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Alessandro Di Iorio (C) 

    Alessandro Di Iorio’s sophomore season was interrupted by a serious preseason arm injury that caused him to miss two months and halted his momentum coming into the year. What followed was a slightly underwhelming draft season, failing to improve upon his strong rookie season and missing the playoffs with a young and rebuilding Sarnia team.

    Di Iorio is a strong two-way forward, using his sturdy frame to make an impact at both ends of the ice and make his presence felt in puck battles. He’s very smart and consistently makes good decisions with the puck, allowing him to play at a high pace and slot in anywhere up and down the lineup. He’s diligent and hardworking at both ends, forechecking with energy while also staying disciplined with his positioning in the defensive zone. His production may not have popped like some anticipated this season, but he played a key depth role for Canada at both the Hlinka Gretzky and U18 World Championship tournaments, highlighting his versatility and ability to endear himself to coaches. He likely didn’t prove enough offensively to lock himself in as a first-round prospect, but his two-way acumen and hockey smarts should still land him inside the top two rounds. 

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Simon Katolicky (LW)

    Simon Katolický is a player I’ve been pretty underwhelmed with in terms of progression this
    year; he feels a bit snake-bitten offensively, and that’s clearly impacted his confidence and
    ice time. He’s still very raw, but the foundation is there, great size at 6’4”, skates well for that
    frame, and shows a decent motor with flashes of understanding how to use his length
    effectively. That said, his stride lacks power for someone his size, he takes smaller, less
    explosive strides and almost skates like a smaller player, which limits his physical impact.
    His IQ is still a work in progress, especially with the puck, where he tends to default to safer,
    simpler plays and doesn’t always show the poise you’d want to see to hold onto possession
    and create. He competes, but not consistently, he’ll have shifts where he’s engaged and
    others where he fades a bit. Off the puck, though, he brings value with an active stick and
    physical presence, and offensively, he leans more as a shooter than a playmaker, you’re not
    relying on him to thread passes or consistently find seams. There’s a lot of raw ability here,
    and based on what he showed last year, I still have confidence he can bounce back, but at
    this point, he’s not a first-rounder for me, more in that mid-to-late second range. If things
    click, you’re looking at a powerful middle-six winger, but there’s definite boom-or-bust risk,
    and I wouldn’t touch him in the first round right now; I liked him a lot more last year, but
    there’s still something to work with.

  • Weekly Draft Eligible Three Stars: The Goalie Edition

    This week’s draft-eligible three stars is taking a different approach. The main focus has been on some of the top point getters among players trying to build up their stock for the 2026 NHL Draft, but this week it showcases three goaltenders. Leading the way is a Western Hockey League (WHL) puck stopper who posted back-to-back shutouts. Sticking in the WHL, an American keeper is leading the way for his club, only allowing two goals in a pair of games. Finally, another American in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is proving to be a key piece for a strong contender.

    Parker Snell | Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

    Edmonton Oil Kings goalie Parker Snell is one of the top draft-eligible goalies in the WHL this season. Despite his save percentage of .886, which ranks eighth in the league among draft-eligible puck stoppers (min. 10 games), his three shutouts and 2.94 goals against average (GAA) are both second in the WHL with those same qualifiers.

    Snell is not a huge goalie at 6-foot-2 and 179 pounds but has a strong technical base that makes him an intriguing prospect. The St. Albert, AB, native was the 21st-ranked goalie out of 37 on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Ranking of North American goalies. Snell played in a pair of WHL games last season and stopped all 54 shots, earning one shutout. This season, Snell has split the crease and played 27 games, amassing a 17-7-1 record.

    The Northern Alberta Xtreme product held down the fort for the Oil Kings on Friday night as they were outshot 34-23 by the Red Deer Rebels. He stopped every puck thrown at him in the contest, coming away with first-star honors in a 2-0 victory. Back at it on Saturday night, Snell had a quieter night with a 20-save shutout in a 6-0 blanking of the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

    Harrison Boettiger | Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

    Harrison Boettiger has taken on the starting job for the Kelowna Rockets in his first season in the WHL. The Wheat Ridge, Colorado, native is second among draft-eligible keepers who have played at least 10 games in wins (21) and fourth in save percentage (.904).

    The United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) product was excellent in the first inaugural USNTDP vs. Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Prospect Challenge in November 2024. After the US was pounded 6-1 in the first game, with current Sarnia Sting goalie Patrick Quinlan struggling against the high-flying offense of Team CHL, Boettinger got the start in game two. He was sensational, with 35 saves and a .921 save percentage, and almost got the game to overtime but lost 3-2 with a last-minute goal by Calgary Flames prospect Cole Reschny.

    Boettiger, now a CHL goalie, suited up for the other side in the 2025 edition of the challenge. Unfortunately for him, fellow draft-eligible goalie Brady Knowling outdueled him, making 42 saves to win the game 4-2.

    The seventh-ranked stopper by NHL Central Scouting in its Mid-Term Rankings for North American goalies had a strong week for the Rockets. On Wednesday night, Boettiger made 25 saves in a 4-1 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds. He followed it up on Saturday, turning away all but one of the Wenatchee Wild’s 26 shots to help secure a 5-1 win.

    Ryder Fetterolf | Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

    Ryder Fetterolf is really making a name for himself this season as one of the top netminders in the OHL. He is second in the league in both save percentage (.922) and GAA (2.11) with 26 wins in 36 games.

    The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native ranked as the 16th goaltender on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Rankings of North American goalies. He is committed to Penn State next season. Fetterolf was a star on the American prep school circuit, putting up a .940 save percentage with 49 wins in 61 games in his final season with the Gilmour Academy. He played in one game with the United States Hockey League’s Tri-City Storm that went very poorly, as he allowed six goals on 25 shots.

    The 18-year-old continued his hot play this week with a pair of stellar outings. On Thursday night, Fetterolf was beat twice in the first period but closed the door through the next two periods. He stopped all 10 shots as the 67’s coasted to an 8-2 win over the Saginaw Spirit. The Pittsburgh Penguins Elite program alumnus was the first star of the game Sunday afternoon. The 67’s built a 3-0 lead in the first period, and Fetterolf stopped all 28 shots by the Sarnia Sting as his club won 5-0.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    The road towards the 2026 NHL draft continues to narrow as the season inches closer to the end. June will be here before we know it, and before that, prospects across the world will be proving they deserve to have their names called by an NHL team. This week’s three stars feature two Americans who powered their American Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team to a pair of wins this week and a Western Hockey League winger in the middle of a breakout.

    Egor Barabanov | C | Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

    Egor Barabanov is enjoying a banner rookie season in the OHL. The Anaheim, CA, native is third in league scoring with 72 points (25 goals, 47 assists), behind only teammate Nikita Klepov and New York Rangers prospect Nathan Aspinall. The 19-year-old, who spent part of four seasons in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Sioux Falls Stampede and the Madison Capitals, was the 39th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting on its Mid-Term Rankings.

    Barabanov opened the week with a two-goal game against the Flint Firebirds in a 5-4 win. He scored a power play goal in the second period to take a 3-2 lead. He doubled down in the third period, scoring his 23rd goal of the season to tie the game at 4.

    The 6-foot, 181-pound forward followed that up with a career-high six points (one goal, five assists) in an 11-3 drubbing of the Sarnia Sting. Barabanov had three assists in the first period as the Spirit jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first period. He added a pair of helpers in the second before notching the 11th goal for his squad in the third.

    The Anaheim Junior Ducks product polished off the week with a goal and assist in a 4-2 loss to the Windsor Spitfires.

    Nikita Klepov | RW | Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

    The Saginaw Spirit has one of the most dominant duos of draft-eligible players between Nikita Kelpov and Barabanov. The American OHL rookies sit at numbers two and three in league scoring. Klepov was a first-round pick of the Spirit in the 2025 CHL Import Draft after scoring 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 59 games with the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL. The 6-foot, 181-pound winger is the 38th-ranked skater on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings.

    The Deerfield Beach, FL, native began the week potting a goal and three assists as the Spirit knocked off its American rival, the Flint Firebirds, 5-4. Klepov was all over the scoresheet again with another four-point outing against the Sarnia Sting. He finished the weekend with a lone assist in Saginaw’s 4-2 loss to the Windsor Spitfires.

    Beckett Hamilton | RW | Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

    Red Deer Rebels winger Beckett Hamilton loves to shoot the puck. The Humboldt, SK, native is averaging a team-high seven shots per game with an average of 3.9 shots on goal per game. Hamilton is on the smaller side at 5-foot-11 and 172 pounds, but that nose for the net should get fans and scouts excited. The 17-year-old has blown by his rookie point totals. After posting 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 67 games in 2024-25, Hamilton is already at 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 52 games in 2025-26.

    Hamilton led all draft-eligible players this week in shots on goal with 24 in three games. He opened up with seven shots on goal while picking up an assist in a 6-3 loss to the Everett Silvertips. The 75th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting had a pair of goals and assists for four points, including a helper on the overtime winner, as the Rebels eked out a 5-4 overtime win against the Medicine Hat Tigers. He wrapped up the weekend registering 10 shots on goal but not picking up any points in a 4-3 overtime win against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.