Behind the Jersey – Ben Pickell

Ben Pickell, a tenured player with a well-rounded experience in junior hockey, is playing in his first season with the Sarnia Sting. This season’s addition has found chemistry with the team and brings his extensive background to the team for his final overage year.

Ben Pickell’s junior career began in 2021 when he was drafted by the Barrie Colts in the third round of the Priority Selection. He split his time in the OJHL between 2021 and 2024 with the Pickering Panthers and the Trenton Golden Hawks. He was officially signed by the Kingston Frontenacs as a free agent in 2024 after attending the team’s training camp. In his time with these teams, he was described as an energetic, high-scoring player.

When reflecting on his draft experience, Pickell said it was a “childhood dream to be drafted to the OHL”, despite the ups and downs of junior hockey. “It’s not as straight an arrow as you think growing up. I’m thankful for everything I’ve learned, I wouldn’t change my experience for the world. I’m going to be able to take what I’ve learned with me my whole life”. Pickell was moved from team to team, and up and down from the OJHL early in his career, which he said taught him valuable lessons in facing adversity, “It was a rollercoaster of three years for me, but I learned a lot through billets, teammates, coaches and experiences”.

The young player was well-versed with uncertainty as he moved between teams and leagues for three seasons. Pickell played his first full OHL season in 2024-25 with the Frontenacs, where he scored 13 goals and 11 assists, and went on to play in two rounds of the playoffs before being eliminated in a nail-biting game seven by the Barrie Colts. The achievement of that season was an accumulation of all he had learned through his adverse seasons prior. He said his main takeaway from the experience was that, “When one door closes, another opens. It might take a while. I had to keep my head down and trust the people who believe in me”.

Although neither of the left winger’s parents played hockey, they played a significant role in supporting his career. “My parents have been my biggest motivation throughout my career. They both played sports at a high level, and they’ve pushed me and kept me level-headed. They travel far when they watch me play, I don’t want to let them down”.

Pickell’s main hockey influence growing up came from his three-year-older cousin, Ethan Cardwell, who now plays for the San Jose Sharks. He even played alongside and lived with Cardwell in Barrie during the 2022-23 season. Pickell said, “He showed me the ropes early on in my career. My dad never played, or my brothers, so he was my main hockey influence”.

If he could go back in time and talk to 15-year-old Ben, who was freshly drafted, he said, “I would probably tell him that it all works out, and that everything happens for a reason. It’s a lot of fun, enjoy it while you can, and don’t get too down”.

The 20-year-old signed with the Sarnia Sting one week into the 2025-26 season in a trade with the Kingston Frontenacs. He joined the Sting for his final year in the league in a trade for a 2029 10th-round selection. “I came to Sarnia with an open mind. I didn’t really know what to expect. There I was, with a new team again. I’ve been used to it, it’s all part of the game”. The overager seemed to click with the team straight from his arrival and found success early on. He played his first game as a Sting just one day after signing his contract, and went on to score his first Sting goal in the following game against the Flint Firebirds. Pickell said it was important to earn the trust of the guys early in his time with the team, and is proud to play his final season in Sarnia, “It’s been a great fit. I’m happy to end my OHL career here. Super grateful for the opportunity here”.

Ben Pickell in his first game with the Sarnia Sting against the Flint Firebirds.

Since joining the team, he has amassed a total of 23 points and will surely surpass his 24 points from last year in Kingston, which he attributes to newfound conviction and having been given more opportunity on the ice. When asked what changed between the two seasons, he said, “I think confidence. I’ve had more opportunities on the defensive side where I can make plays and get more creative”. Pickell said that last year, being his first full season, he was learning that it’s hard to adjust his game while he’s in the fire, “I added a few more tools to the kit, built confidence, and I know I can trust my teammates”.

The seasoned player hopes that his age and experience are of value to the young Sting team, and says he helps out where he can and tries to be someone the younger players can look up to. This year’s team has faced their fair share of change, from leadership and ownership to moving around players. Pickell’s career has prepared him well for these adjustments, he said, “As a younger player, it’s super tough, you want to stick to a routine. It can be intimidating. Now, as an older player myself, I’ve learned how to handle change and run with it. It’s important to adjust accordingly, and stick to what you know”.

As for the rest of the season, Pickell’s goal seems to be aligned with that of the rest of the team, winning games and working towards the playoffs, “Playoffs are just out of the hunt, but I think we’re right there. That’s the number one goal for the team and me”. He says he is focused on getting better each game, and that his former playoff experience can be of help to his teammates and his game for the next half of the season.

This is Pickell’s final year in the OHL, and he has recently earned an NCAA scholarship and is committed to Robert Morris for the 2025-26 season. He said the OHL has prepared him for this next step, saying, “playing against NHL caliber and soon-to-be players has taught me a lot; The way they prepare themselves day-by-day, their habits and grind”.