Di Iorio and Edwards: The rookie duo changing the game in Sarnia
It’s rare to see rookies make the kind of immediate and lasting impression that Alessandro Di Iorio and Beckham Edwards did in their first season with the Sarnia Sting. But the pair of 2008-born forwards didn’t just step into the league – they stepped up.
Combining for over 80 points in their debut campaign, Di Iorio and Edwards are quickly shaping the identity of a young Sting team hungry to climb back to the top of the Western Conference. With poise, polish, and presence beyond their years, they’ve already established themselves as more than just promising prospects.
Di Iorio, Sarnia’s 2nd overall pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, came in with a reputation for elite hockey IQ and two-way responsibility, and he delivered on every front. Whether it was killing penalties, centring key lines, or making crucial backchecks late in games, the Vaughan Kings’ product was trusted in all situations.
Edwards, meanwhile, flipped his hockey path upside down before joining the Sting. Originally committed to the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms with plans to take the NCAA route, he pivoted back to Canada after the OHL changed its rules around NCAA eligibility. That decision paid off in full. The Sting’s third-round pick notched 45 points (25-20–45), with highlight moments like the Teddy Bear Toss goal in December and a dramatic overtime winner against the London Knights on New Year’s Day.
“You can trace their successes back to their continued involvement with Hockey Canada; both have been essential pieces of their programs and teams,” said Sting GM Dylan Seca. “It’s a great indicator of where they stand among the top players in the country – they’re clearly elite.”
But what makes this duo so special isn’t just what they do on the ice; it’s also how they carry themselves off it.
“They’re consummate professionals,” Seca said. “That term gets thrown around a lot, but it truly fits. From their work in the classroom to their habits in the gym and during video sessions, they’re always looking for ways to improve.”
Last year, during the team’s development camp, both players took the reins. They led off-ice sessions, set expectations, and helped integrate new teammates into the fold.
“You could see it, they were spreading their wings,” Seca recalled. “Older guys gravitate toward them, and the younger ones look up to them. They’re incredibly well respected in our locker room.”
As the Sting gear up for the 2025-26 campaign, the team’s blueprint to contention is clear: youth leading the charge, a defence-first identity, and a no-quit attitude.
“We don’t have time for second-year players to ease in,” said Seca. “We need our young core to come in and stamp their authority on the league from day one.”
New signings like goaltender Patrick Quinlan and blueliner Kaden Aucoin to bolster their backend, round out a group that could surprise many teams.
“We’re aiming to be one of the hardest teams in the league to play against,” Seca said. “We want that dark horse mentality. Whether we’re at home or on the road, we want teams cringing at the thought of facing us.”
And at the centre of it all? Two 17-year-olds who’ve already proven they can swing shifts on their own and are ready to lead the teams’ surge back to the winner’s circle.
