The Sarnia Sting overcame a two-goal deficit and availed themselves of a succession of power-play opportunities to open the Ontario Hockey League season with a 4-3 victory over the Soo Greyhounds on Saturday.
Late special-teams surge turns the game
Facing a 3-1 hole, the Sting seized momentum late in the second period and carried it into the third, scoring three power-play goals in a span of under four minutes to complete the comeback at GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie. The game drew an announced crowd of 3,082.
Newcomers Simon Katolicky and Cole Emerton each scored for Sarnia, but it was Jack Van Volsen who finished the rally, scoring both the tying and the winning goals early in the third period. Goaltender Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko stopped 27 shots in his OHL debut to earn the victory.
How the scoring unfolded
The Greyhounds built a 3-1 lead on the strength of Ryan Kaczynski, who recorded a hat trick for the hosts. Kaczynski’s three goals gave Soo an advantage before the Sting capitalized on penalty trouble to turn the tide.
- Sarnia finished 3-for-8 on the power play.
- Soo was 2-for-4 with the man advantage.
- Emerton opened the comeback with a power-play goal 43 seconds before the second period ended, timing a one-timer from the left circle past netminder David Vermirovsky.
"The Sting erased a 3-1 deficit by taking advantage of the Greyhounds’ penalty problems," the game summary noted.
The three power-play goals spanned the end of the second and the early moments of the third, with Van Volsen converting twice near the left post to complete the turnaround.
Key statistics
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Final score | Sarnia 4 — Soo 3 |
| Attendance | 3,082 |
| Sarnia power play | 3-for-8 |
| Soo power play | 2-for-4 |
| Sarnia goalie saves | 27 (Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko) |
For Sarnia, the late special-teams success will be a welcome sign for a roster integrating new players. The three power-play markers in a compressed window showed the Sting could be decisive when opponents take penalties, and they did so against a Soo side that relied heavily on Kaczynski’s finishing.
From a local perspective, a season-opening road win has immediate implications for the Sting’s confidence as they head into a busy schedule. Strong early special-teams play can help mask transitional growing pains — particularly with new faces getting their first regular-season minutes in an OHL campaign.
Coach and team staff will likely take encouragement from Tkach-Tkachenko’s composed debut between the pipes. Making 27 saves in a close affair removes some of the pressure on a forward group that needed to rally late to secure the result.
Fans in Sarnia will be looking for the Sting to carry the momentum back to their home arena in the coming days and for the power play to remain a consistent weapon. The combination of veteran finishers and younger additions such as Katolicky and Emerton will be watched closely as the season unfolds.
Saturday’s result delivers an early boost: a comeback win on the road that showcased the team’s special-teams capability and closed the opener with a late flourish.
