Sarnia Sting

Devils’ prospect Josh Jacobs to leave Michigan State

By Dhiren MahibanMay 31, 2015, 11:45 AM EDT

New Jersey Devils prospect Josh Jacobs has decided to leave Michigan State following his freshman year.

The defenseman will sign with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sarnia Sting. The Sting have a press conference scheduled for Monday morning at which time Jacobs’ signing could be made official.

“I talked to Josh and this is to me absolutely, positively a personal decision,” GM Ray Shero told The Bergen Record. “It was the family’s and Josh’s decision. They met with Michigan State and if that’s what’s best for him, then that’s wonderful for him. I would never be part of that decision.”

Prior to attending university, the 6-foot-2, 193-pound blue liner spent two seasons with the Indian Ice of the USHL.

The 19-year-old had nine assists to go along with 26 penalty minutes and a minus-10 rating in 35 games at Michigan State.

“I’m very thankful to Michigan State University and the hockey community for everything over the past few years and I wish them nothing but the best going forward,” Jacobs said in a release per the Detroit Free Press.

Shero said the club doesn’t have immediate plans to sign Jacobs to an entry-level contract. The Devils would like to see him at the club’s development camp first. New Jersey has until June 1, 2016 to sign Jacobs or he would be eligible to re-enter the draft.

Jacobs was the Devils’ second-round selection (41st overall) at the 2014 NHL Draft.

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Montreal’s tip to Galchenyuk paying off big

By Joe YerdonDec 22, 2012, 12:55 PM EDT

When Alex Galchenyuk’s season started with the Sarnia Sting, he didn’t exactly get off to the kind of start befitting the third overall pick in the 2012 draft. The Montreal Canadiens had a tip for him to help get him going though. The team’s director of player development, Martin Lapointe, told him to shoot more.

Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette found out hears from Galchenyuk about how that advice has paid off.

“I know I have a pretty good shot and I know sometimes I can a shoot a bit more,” Galchenyuk said. “I also know I can make a pretty good play. I have good vision and I can make plays, but (Lapointe) said I should shoot more, so I listened and I’ve started scoring. The last 10 games I’m more of a shooter. I think I’m more dangerous when I have the puck and I see that opening.”

Those last few games have been huge as we shared with you last week. In his last 17 games with Sarnia, he has 19 goals and 40 points. While the Habs won’t pull him from the World Junior Championships if the lockout is settled before the end of the tournament, he’s ready to go if/when they come calling.

Habs prospect Galchenyuk on fire heading into Team USA World Juniors camp

By Joe YerdonDec 16, 2012, 2:46 PM EDT

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Many Canadiens fans were worried about how their 2012 first-round pick Alex Galchenyuk would rebound from a knee injury he suffered last season. Safe to say he’s doing just fine now.

Through 33 games with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, Galchenyuk has 27 goals and 61 points. His goal mark is good enough to tie him for first with Stars prospect Brett Ritchie and Jackets prospect Boone Jenner. His point total puts him one behind Islanders prospect Ryan Strome.

What’s more amazing is that in his last 17 games he’s got 19 goals and 40 points and with Team USA’s World Junior Championships camp opening up tonight in Tarrytown, NY he’s getting into high gear at the right time.

Over the summer at the Team USA camp in Lake Placid, Galchenyuk was busy working himself back into form after his injury last season. Now that he’s fully healthy and with the kinds of numbers he’s putting up (eight points in his last two games, five against Kingston alone), Montreal and America couldn’t be more excited.

Yakupov’s KHL transfer deemed illegal, Russian hockey federation fined

By Mike HalfordSep 26, 2012, 11:15 AM EDT

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Nail Yakupov’s KHL eligibility has come under fire from the International Ice Hockey Federation.

According to a statement released by the IIHF, the Edmonton Oilers draftee joined — and played two games for — KHL club Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk without an approved transfer card.

Here’s the IIHF’s explanation, courtesy Puck Daddy’s Dmitry Chesnokov:

The ITC was not signed by Hockey Canada and was thus not approved by the IIHF. Playing without an approved ITC following an international transfer request is a breach of IIHF transfer regulations.

At this time, being that Hockey Canada did not approve Nail Yakupov’s ITC, his case is in appeal procedures. Until appeal procedures are complete and a decision regarding his transfer to Russia is made, an ITC will not be approved or denied by the IIHF.

In accordance with IIHF regulations the IIHF has sanctioned the Russian Ice Hockey Federation with a fine of 5.000 CHF and informed the RHF to withdraw the player from further competition in order not to risk stronger sanctions, including sanctions (suspension) of the player, pending the final decision of the IIHF’s appeal procedure.

In accordance with IIHF regulations, the Russian Ice Hockey Federations has seven days (1 October 2012) to respond to Hockey Canada’s appeal.

(CHF is Swiss Francs — 5,000 works out to being approximately $5,314.17 USD.)

According to Chris Johnston of the Canadian Press, the reason Hockey Canada didn’t sign off on Yakupov’s ITC is because it believes his rights remain with OHL Sarnia — Yakupov’s junior club for the last two seasons.

The Oilers are not believed to be blocking Yakupov’s move to Russia, even though they assigned him to Sarnia in mid-September. That was simply a clerical move, according to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal:

There was a feeling the Oilers might be blocking the 18-year-old from playing in the Kontinental Hockey League because they had assigned him to his old junior team, the Sarnia Sting, but that’s not true, according to team sources. That was simply a paper transaction because Yakupov has junior eligibility left.

If the first-overall pick in the June draft wants to play in Russia, that’s fine with them. This is what the kid wants, what Larionov wants after talking informally with the NHL club over the summer, and the Oilers weren’t about to play hardball and tell Yakupov he has to stay in North America.

If anything, the Oilers could be genuinely displeased with the IIHF ruling. TSN’s Darren Dreger notes the club wanted Yakupov playing during the lockout, presumably so he could join the team as soon as the season starts up.

Get to know a draft pick — Alex Galchenyuk

By Joe YerdonJun 19, 2012, 9:15 PM EDT

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All week leading up to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, we’ll be profiling top prospects who may hear their names called Friday in the first round. Nothing too in-depth. Just enough so you know who they are and what they’re about.

Alex Galchenyuk (Center)

Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 198 Shoots: Left

Team: Sarnia Sting (OHL)

Country: United States

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 4 North American skater

What kind of player is he?

He’s one of the draft’s “Big 5”. While he dealt with a knee injury (torn ACL) this year, Galchenyuk’s talent is immense. He finished second in OHL rookie scoring last season behind likely No. 1 pick and Sarnia teammate Nail Yakupov and had a strong showing in this year’s OHL playoffs. The Sting lost in the first round, but Galchenyuk had two goals and two assists in the series.

Once he matures, he’ll be a big forward with two-way ability that can score in bunches. The big question concerning Galchenyuk is whether the knee injury he suffered will scare teams off.

Quotable

“In terms of overall talent I consider him the most complete player in the draft with the highest upside at the NHL level. His hockey sense and ability to make players around him better are at an NHL level already.” Shane Malloy – Author of “The Art Of Scouting”

More draft profiles: