News Release

SARNIA STINGS PLYMOUTH IN SEASON OPENER, 7-3

SARNIA – Trevor Kell scored a hat trick and Steven Stamkos scored twice as the Sarnia Sting defeated the Plymouth Whalers, 7-3, in an Ontario Hockey League game played Friday night in the season opener before 3,614 at the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre.

Tomas Pospisil and Danny Anger scored the other Sarnia goals.  Dan Collins, James Neal and Andrew Fournier all scored one apiece for the Whalers.

Although Kell and Stamkos were playing in their first-ever game for Sarnia, they are in different stages in their respective careers.  Kell (the game’s first star) is a veteran overage recently acquired by Sarnia from London, while Stamkos (the game’s third star) was taken first overall by the Sting in the 2006 OHL Draft.  The game’s second star – Sarnia defenseman Ryan Wilson, a veteran over from Toronto also playing in his first game for the Sting – added three assists.

Sarnia never trailed in the game, leading 4-2 after one period and 6-3 after forty minutes.

Plymouth tied the game at 1-1 on Collins’ goal at 4:54 of the first period and 2-2 on Neal’s goal at 16:04 of the period. But Pospisil scored 31 seconds later to give Sarnia a 3-2 lead and Kell scored his first of the evening 27 seconds after that at 17:02 to give Sarnia a 4-2 lead.

Special teams proved to be the difference, with Sarnia getting 16 power plays and scoring four goals with the man advantage.  Plymouth went 1-for-9 on the power play.

Plymouth rookie goaltender Michal Neuvirth started the game and was relieved by Jeremy Smith after Kell scored at 2:10 of the second period to give Sarnia a 5-2 lead.  Neuvirth stopped 7-of-12 Sarnia shots in 22 minutes in his OHL debut.  Smith stopped 19-of-21 Sarnia shots the rest of the way.  Sarnia goaltender Sebastian Dahm – over from Belleville in a trade and making his Sting debut – stopped 21-of-24 Plymouth shots.

Plymouth scratches included Kyle Jendra, Brett Bellemore, Jozef Sladok, Chad Beal, Brett Valliquette and John Armstrong. Sarnia scratches included Christian Steingraber, Matt Martin, Harrison Reed, Anthony Pototschnik and Chris Mifflen.

Plymouth is back in action Saturday in the Home Opener at 7:05 pm at the Compuware Sports Arena against Erie (6:50 pm, www.plymouthwhalers.com). Tickets ($14 and $10) are available by calling the Compuware Sports Arena at (734) 453-8400, or by going to Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticketmaster can be called at (248) 645-6666.