Friday Night Buzz: Sarnia Sting Clinch Playoff Berth

The Sarnia Sting entered their final home stand of the season looking for a single point to clinch their first playoff berth in three years.  Last week, Sarnia failed to record the single point in all three of their games and with three games in two-and-a-half days this weekend, the Sting were looking to get the win early.  On Friday night, the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds rolled into town looking for wins and points of their own as they sit 9^th in the Western Conference standings, one spot out of a playoff position.  The Hounds’ visit to the RBC Centre marked the eighth and final regular season game between the Sting and Greyhounds and Sarnia carried the advantage winning four of the previous seven meetings.



Metcalfe Photography



In typical Sarnia Sting fashion, the team came out flat in front of a good home crowd of 4055 spectators and while there was no scoring in the first period the Hounds outshoot the Sting 15-7 in an extremely quick first period. After an opening period with few stoppages that took just over twenty minutes to complete it appeared the Greyhounds and Sting wanted to get this game over with as quickly as possible. 

The Greyhounds came out of the first intermission with energy and at the 6:35 mark of the middle frame, Detroit Red Wings’ prospect defenseman Ryan Sproul let a howitzer go beating Sting netminder JP Anderson over the shoulder to open the scoring. Sarnia was once again behind and it became worse as the Sting spotted the visiting Greyhounds a 3-0 lead giving up the next two goals to towering Swede Michael Schumacher (Los Angeles Kings) and David Broll, a Maple Leafs’ prospect. Broll’s goal came in the opening seconds of a four minute Greyhounds powerplay, awarded after Alberga hit pesky forward Nick Cousins from behind.  Two Soo powerplay goals later and a 3-0 deficit to overcome it appeared Sarnia’s playoff hopes would be delayed for the fourth straight game after another slow start.  However, late in the second period, Ludvig Rensfeldt welcomed his parents to Canada (visiting from Sweden) and gave the Sting a bit of life when he knocked in a goal to cut the lead to 3-1.

The RBC Centre came to life as the puck dropped for the third period and the chants began echoing through the arena taunting Greyhounds’ agitating forward and leading scorer Nick Cousins after many fans felt he embellished Alberga’s hit from behind in the second period.  Dominic Alberga continued his verbal battle with Cousins (Flyers’ 2011 3^rd round selection) but his best jab was when he was able to bury his 17^th of the season passed netminder Jack Campbell on DeAngelo’s centering pass to pull the Sting within one goal.  At the 4:22 mark of the third, former Sting defenseman Joe Rogalski was sent to the sin bin for delay of game after clearing the puck over the glass.  Seven seconds later, Greyhounds’ defenseman Mike Schwindt fired his clearing shot into the crowd to put the visiting team on a 5-on-3 penalty kill.  Sarnia capitalized early on the man advantage as former Greyhound and Sault Ste. Marie native Brett Thompson tied the game for the Sting.  The fury of goals in the third period continued as Reid Boucher and Ludvig Rensfeldt scored 56 seconds apart to put Sarnia up 5-3 as the Sting scored five unanswered goals.

The Soo Greyhounds pushed back late in the third period as Nick Cousins fired a wrist shot into the back of Sarnia’s net with the goaltender pulled.  The Sting fended off the late attack and won the game 5-4 despite being outshot 48-25 on the shot clock.  Sting goaltender JP Anderson played strong and made several key saves to keep Sarnia in the game. 

#StingFacts

-           Ludvig Rensfeldt (Chicago Blackhawks) scored his 19^th and 20^th goals of the season and continues to play his best hockey of the season.  Rensfeldt has 20 goals, 41 points in 52 games in his first year in the Ontario Hockey League.  The big Swede has 10 goals and 9 assists for 19 points in his last 21 games.

-          Connor Murphy, Sarnia’s 15^th round selection in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection Draft, has been simply amazing in his first OHL season after returning from injury in December.  The lanky Murphy has shown tremendous upside at both the defensive and offensive ends of the rink.  Connor added an assist and was plus-3 in last night’s win.

-          Sixteen year old rookie defenseman, Anthony DeAngelo, continues his strong play recording another assist last night extending his point streak to four games.  DeAngelo has two goals and eight points over his last eight games and sits third in Sting defenseman scoring (20 points) trailing injured rearguards Adrian Robertson (37) and Alex Basso (34).  DeAngelo is a treat to watch and is going to be a fun player to watch develop as he earns more ice time in the OHL.

-          Sarnia has five players in the 20-goal club including Nail Yakupov (31), Ryan Spooner (28), Brett Thompson (28), Reid Boucher (26) and Ludvig Rensfeldt (20).  Tyler J. Brown (19) is still searching for his first goal as a member of the Sarnia Sting.  Charlie Sarault (18), Craig Hottot (18) and Dominic Alberga (17) are within grasps of reaching the 20-goal milestone as well.

-          Sarnia continues to play with a shortened roster as Coach Jacque Beaulieu is forced to dress only ten forwards and six defensemen last night and does not expect any of the injured players to return this weekend.   Alex Galchenyuk, Craig Hottot, Alex Basso and Adrian Robertson are all still on the mend.

-          Sarnia’s win Friday night over the Greyhounds gives the team 71 points tying Owen Sound.  The Sting currently have one game in hand over the Attack to seed them in the 4^th spot in the Western Conference.  Sarnia welcomes Owen Sound to the RBC Centre tonight (Saturday, March 10^th) in a huge game that will likely determine who finishes 4^th and receives home ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.

 http://youtu.be/frsa0JMvank

Sarnia/Sault Ste Marie Season Series Recap (5-3-0)

October 20^th – SSM 5, SAR 2

October 26^th – SAR 5, SSM 1

December 4^th – SSM 2, SAR 5

December 28^th – SAR 3, SSM 6

January 19^th – SSM 4, SAR 6

February 12^th – SAR 7, SSM 6

February 29^th- SAR 2, SSM 8

March 7^th- SSM 4, SAR 5

Game Day Preview:  Owen Sound @ Sarnia, 7 pm

-          The Western Conference 4^th seed and home ice advantage is up for grabs tonight.

-       It's expected that there will be a strong presence of NHL scouts to take in the 2012 NHL draft-eligible players specifically Nail Yakupov (Sarnia), Gemel Smith (OS) and Artur Gavrus (OS).

-          Tonight’s game is the fourth and final meeting between the Sting and Attack.

-          Previous Games:

o   Sarnia 3 @ Owen Sound 4 (OT)

o   Owen Sound 3 @ Sarnia 5

o   Sarnia 2 @ Owen Sound 5

-          The home team has won all three games to date.

-          Sting Scorers vs. Owen Sound Attack:

o   Charlie Sarault (1G, 4A)

o   Brett Thompson (2G, 2A)

o   Reid Boucher (2G, 1A)

o   Nail Yakupov (2G, 1A)

o   Ludvig Rensfeldt (1G)

o   Ryan Spooner (1G)

o   Jack Kuzmyk (1A)

o   Anthony DeAngelo (1A)

o   Dominic Alberga (1A)

o   Alex Basso (1A)

o   Craig Hottot (1A)

The Ryan Rupert Saga

Special Thanks To Bryan Thiel

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There’s a saying out there that goes something along the lines of “you can do something right 1,000 times, but still slip up that 1,001^st time.”

While the OHL may not have gotten each of the last 1,000 right, they were on a hot streak. But that 1,001^st time? Well…it turned a lot of heads.

By now you’ve probably heard that Ryan Rupert of the London Knights received a five-game suspension for his chop to the mid-section of Sault Ste. Marie’s Nick Cousins, an action that sparked a bench-clearing end to their game on November 11^th. As the weekend passed, many awaited the discipline that would be handed down to one half of the Rupert twins, and many speculated on the length of the suspension.

There were those out there that didn’t think the incident necessitated anything more than a 10-game ban. Others began with 15, trying to use the recently-handed down Tom Kuhnhackl suspension as a basis for comparison. Along with those two groups, there was the more serious stratosphere, where ideas of suspending Rupert for the bulk of 2011/12 or longer lived.

A majority of the people fell within the last two groups, so you can imagine the outpouring of confusion and ire when it was announced the Rupert would miss five games for his actions. Just five. No more, no less.

In a league where double-digit suspensions have been consistently handed out for dangerous incidents this season marking a step forward in discipline and on-ice awareness, Rupert’s ban is a step backwards. Along with Kuhnhackl, Oshawa’s Christian Thomas was handed a 10-game suspension for a stick-swinging incident against Saginaw. The Spirit’s Josh Shalla was saddled with a ten game ban for a headshot and (ironically on the same day Rupert’s suspension was announced) both Dean Pawlaczyk and Alex O’Neil received 15 and 10 games respectively for head hits. Those are just a few of the more serious suspensions this year.

Along with that, in a multi-media world that’s dictated by video evidence and social networking, the glare on the perceived ‘miss’ intensified when the realization was reached that there was no video explanation from the OHL. Pawlaczyk had one and so did O’Neil, but if you search for a video detailing the events of the incident and the determining criteria in the suspension, you won’t find it.

OHL Commissioner David Branch did release a statement on the discipline handed down and his views on it however.

"We didn't see a baseball-style swing as some accounts had it. We viewed it as more of a chopping action. Illegal use of the stick is something of concern, but he also hit the Soo player in a place on the body that is well-protected."


Branch also took into account that Rupert was reacting to Cousins, who was suspended two games for enticing the Knights player after the final buzzer.


He discounted further discipline for bullying after Rupert threw off his gloves and punched the Greyhound player. "We looked at that, but we didn't see that as the classic case of bullying. He did hit the player, but then realized what he was doing was wrong and stopped." Courtesy: London Free Press, Slash in the Pan

The common factors in each of the suspensions up until Rupert’s were simple, with the suspensions looked upon as a lesson and a punishment rather than just a one or the other. Lessons in how to identify a player in a vulnerable position and not take advantage of him. Lessons in how to think before you act and to try and control your emotions in the heat of battle. Lessons in how to take responsibility for your actions.

If Cousins wasn’t in a vulnerable, unsuspecting position when Rupert struck him across the midsection, then he certainly was when Rupert tossed his gloves aside and jumped atop his back to pummel the crumpled heap lying on the ice. If Rupert had controlled his emotions, the argument of whether Cousins goaded him or not would be moot because this would have never happened. And in terms of Rupert taking responsibility for his actions? He instead skated away relatively free, although he lost the ‘no previous history’ argument in the process if any of this happens again.

The reasoning was there for a longer suspension, and whether you believed he should get eight or 80 games, the recklessness and irresponsibility of Rupert’s decision could hardly be disputed.

And while this has all been about Rupert and his actions, has anyone bothered to ask the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds how they feel about this? If you were to watch one of your players felled by this action and see the offender get five games, what would your reaction be?

Even more than to save it’s face today and tomorrow, a longer suspension would help the OHL going forward. Not just to support the standard they’ve implemented, but to protect Rupert. On the day of the suspension, the next matchup with the Greyhounds is 17-games away. A 5-game ban all but ensures Rupert is in the lineup for that one. While a 17-game suspension wouldn’t save Rupert from the repercussions in future meetings, you can bet that first one between the Soo and London won’t be friendly.

Should a suspension be designed to not only punish but protect? Perhaps. But these days suspensions are also designed to send a message or teach a lesson. And those messages that were delivered crystal clear before are now lost in translation thanks to this.

The 5 Game Dilemma... and other issues

So upon hearing that London Knights forward Ryan Rupert only received 5 games for impersonating a lumber jack, I wanted to do what many people have done. And write my initial reaction to the situation providing complete knee jerk reaction.

Well I decided to fester on the manner before providing my knee jerk reaction.

I think the main problem with Ryan Rupert getting 5 games for his slash and mugging of Soo Greyhounds' Nick Cousins is the fact that a) it was only 5 games and b) Nick Cousins got 2 games for his 'part' in the altercation.

SO lets just look at the first issue here. Only 5 games for a first time offender who freely slashed an opposing player who was 'defenceless' and then proceeded to use his aggression to pounce on the fallen Greyhound and punch him with his bare hands. Mr. David Branch has proved again, as a Yahoo! Sports writer likes to say, 'the only thing consistent about the OHL is its inconsistency.' This season has set the precedents further than before by practically stating, if you attack a player in the head in any way, shape or form, it is 10 games and possibly more. Lets look back at 2 other suspensions that were 20+ games. former OHLers Zack Kassian and Zac Rinaldo both received indefinite suspensions for basically open ice hits that did make contact to the opposition players head. Yes, they were repeat offenders but those were also hockey plays. Ryan Rupert did not openly slash Cousins during a hockey play. The game was over, the buzzer went, and the Greyhounds got onto the ice to celebrate their new goaltender, Jack Campbell, first win as a member of the Soo. So how is this less of a suspension? This shows a great level of 'lack of respect' for your fellow league mates. and again, it was not a hockey play. This is equivalent to the instances where legal action is pursued due to stuff that happens in the confines of the game. Am I saying that legal action should be pursued? no. I believe that if it happens in the sporting world, during a period of time designated as 'playing time' then the law does not apply. That said, there should be a stiffer penalty for Rupert.

Now looking at point b, I have talked to many a media and players in regards to whom Nick Cousins is... needless to say, I am surprised to admit that 80% of these people agreed that if it would happen to a player in the OHL it would be Cousins. Fine, the man has a mouth on him, plays that agitator card and gets under your skin. Sean Avery made a career out of it, Steve Ott is doing the same in Dallas and there are countless others around the world who get paid to be that person. The issue with Cousins is that Branch actually suspended Cousins for 'taunting'? or did he suspended him for being in striking distance of a London Knights players' stick? 2 Games for 'excessive celebration'? I don't know. I am unsure how the victim got penalized 40% of what the attacker received... and he was suspended before the attacker was. Mathematically this makes Rupert's actions only 250% more heinous than Cousins 'taunting' the player. how you can suspend the player who was hit with the slash, and then a few more blows from bare knuckled fists is beyond me... then again it is the OHL... Nothing should surprise me anymore. But thank you David Branch for keeping this guy on his toes.

Oh yeah, here is the consistent part of the OHL. Dean Pawlaczyk and Alex O'Neill each received suspensions for head shots on the same day as Rupert got 5. Pawlaczyk earned a 15 game suspension for being a repeat offended, Dean was already suspended for 10 games earlier this season. If healthy and he does not get another suspension, Pawlaczyk would only play, at best 35 games this season, just over half the season. As for O'Neill, he fell under the head shot equals 10 games minimum theory.

Consistency meets inconsistency... Or maybe, us as media who was declaring that there should be at least 15 game suspension for Rupert are nothing but hungry sharks wanting blood... Nah, lets go with the inconsistency thing. The court of public appeal has spoken. Thank you Mr. Branch for ignoring it entirely.