An Open Letter to Sting Nation

Dear, Sting Nation.

Thank you.

Thank you, for your incredible support and commitment to this team and this organization throughout what was a season like no other for this franchise.

Thank you, for creating an atmosphere at the Hive that has not been felt in some time.

Thank you for braving long lines and camping out overnight to ensure tickets for our first ever appearance in the Western Conference Final.

Thank you, for the showing of support throughout the city with signs chanting Go Sting Go, so many positive messages of support throughout social media and our local school children celebrating Sting hockey with Sting pride days. To say this support was recognized is an understatement- it was overwhelming.

Although we did not achieve our ultimate goal of bringing this city the Ontario Hockey League and Memorial Cup Championship you so very much deserve, we are proud of the strides we have taken to get there. As our mission statement reads: The relentless pursuit of pride among the Sarnia-Lambton community through unquestionable work ethic, integrity, and leadership. We feel we achieved that and will continue that pursuit as we look to build off the lessons of this season towards achieving that ultimate championship goal, we will remain relentless. A foundation and culture of competitiveness and expectation has been built, a foundation in which we will build upon for future success.

We witnessed so many great individual and team accomplishments this season. A 100-point (Ty Voit) and 50 goal (Nolan Burke) seasons for two players that were both drafted and developed right here at home. Both players have been rewarded with National Hockey League contracts and we look forward to watching Ty and Nolan take the next step in their professional careers.

We saw our very own Goaltender Benjamin Gaudreau, Defenseman Ethan Del Mastro and Head Coach Alan Letang represent this country on the world stage and successfully bring home the goal medal. We welcomed several new faces to the team that brought a level of skill on the ice and character to the community that will build a lasting legacy in our city.

From Training Camp to Game #84. The school visits, minor hockey practices, serving up fans at Boston Pizza, autograph sessions, and Family Day skates, you were there, in our corner for all of it. Come September we will be ready to be seen and heard not only on the ice at Progressive Auto Sales Arena but in this community, serving as a positive representation of the great people of Sarnia-Lambton and role models for our youth.

So, once again. On behalf of the entire Sarnia Sting Organization- Thank you, Sting Nation. We will take this season as a launch pad for the future. We will begin the rebuild process and continue our relentless pursuit to bringing this city it’s Championship.

David Legwand,

Owner
Sarnia Sting Hockey Club.