What the Sting Look for in a Player Ahead of the 2026 OHL Priority Selection
Written by Mateya Steblaj-Wood
The next chapter of Sarnia Sting Hockey will continue to be written in the upcoming 2026 OHL Draft. The Sting have the fourth overall pick, a chance to select a player who can help shape the team’s trajectory. This first-round pick allows the organization to select a player with impact and skill, which is exactly what Sting management and scouting have been working on behind the scenes.
Being drafted to the OHL is the ultimate goal for a young hockey player, the chance to play in one of the top development leagues in the world. So what separates a good player from a successful OHL player? Before skill, a Sarnia Sting player is defined by his character and ethic.
Matt Hogan, Director of Player Personnel and Head of Scouting, said there are four main characteristics the Sting look for when scouting potential players: Compete level, hard skill, hockey I.Q., and character.
High Compete Level
Both Hogan and General Manager Dylan Seca have highlighted compete as one of the more important attributes of potential and current Sting players.
When asked how compete is measured in the scouting process, Hogan said, “A big part of compete is consistency. That’s why we start watching in September through March, to see which kids compete night in and night out. The kids who compete every time they step on the ice. We talk to their coaches, see how they compete during practice.”
Seca, who is heavily involved in the scouting process, looks for whether they played on successful teams, how they play in high-stakes games such as playoffs and key matchups against other skilled players. He said, “We start to catalogue players we like, in crucial head-to-head scenarios.”
Hard Skill
The hard skill of a player refers to their proficiency in basic game skills and the level they can produce. Although, as Seca said, it is one of the more difficult areas to analyze.
Hogan determines the hard skill of a player based on his progress and performance in his minor midget year, he said, “It’s the main indicator of how they will develop in the next couple of years, how they progress through their minor midget year.”
Seca is scouting skills from the first game he watches. “Do they take pucks into the more difficult areas of the ice? Are they winning the competitive battles? Do they come out with the opportunities to score goals and create chances?”
Hockey I.Q
Seca said it best, that hockey I.Q is “easily defined as decision-making in key scenarios on the ice. Doesn’t necessarily mean with the puck; we analyze them away from the puck. Do they put themselves in the right spot to receive and defend?” Hockey sense typically is a trait that can’t be taught. A player either has it or he doesn’t.
When asked how early on scouting can detect if a player has that hockey knowledge the Sting are looking for, Seca said, “Players with high I.Q jump out to you right away. You can tell which are the high-IQ players by the plays they’re making and how they present on the ice.”
After countless hours of watching games and analyzing video, the scouting staff can narrow down a list of players who have a strong hockey sense.
Character
Strong character is a non-negotiable to play as a Sarnia Sting. Although there is no specific formula. Every player is different, with their goals, what motivates them, and what brings them to the game.
“You want to make sure they are resilient and can work through challenges. They need to love hockey,” Seca said.
For Seca and the staff, when it comes to a player’s character, it’s all about asking the important questions, “Where do they come from? What motivates them? What is their academic motivation?” The scout’s job is to reach out to everyone around them, whether it be coaches, agents, team staff, families, or even listening in on the crowd at games, to get a read on the player’s character.
Seca said, “If a red flag pops up in their character, they won’t play for us.”
Behind the Scouting
The Sting have specific area scouts throughout Ontario and the United States on the lookout for stand-out players in each area. Each scout will watch the players in their area at least 10-15 times during the regular season games before getting to the tournaments and showcase weekends. By the end of the post-season, each scout will have watched the players on their radar between 30 and 45 times.
Hogan said, “Then there’s the players we catch on to early on who we think could make a good Sarnia Sting. I’ve probably watched those players closer to 60 times. Once again, this is where the consistency comes in; this is a huge factor for the Sarnia Sting.”
Some players stand out to scouts early on in the season, whereas others take more time to develop. Seca said, “Sometimes it’s as simple as their first couple of shifts the first time we see them. The high-end players jump out for certain reasons. The real work goes into the 4th, 5th, 10th, and 20th times when you’re analyzing them against the higher-end players.”
Hogan said the scouts typically don’t speak to players throughout most of the year, then reach out to their agents or start the conversations towards the end of the season. Through their agents, interviews and meetings are set up with management.
Seca said, “We’re looking if this is a player you want to draft. Will they help us win? Are they a Sarnia Sting? Usually, you’re drawn to the good ones pretty quickly.”
Seca streamlines the discussion throughout the season and reaches out to the players. “This is the part of the job that I love, the analysis, being in the arenas, the cataloging, placing them where they belong, comparing them to players Ive liked in the past. I allow the voices to have a voice.”
Seca is constantly analyzing the team’s needs, league trends and comparables, and making changes where needed.
Fourth Overall
With the fourth overall pick, the Sting have the unique opportunity to make a lasting impact with their selection. Hogan said, “We have no control over what happens in the three picks before us. We will be prepared as we can be for the situation in front of us. We know no after what, we are picking a player that we are very, very happy with.”
The first day of the draft is dedicated to only the first round. Seca said, “In the top half, we have a good idea of what we are getting. We are looking for a player who checks certain boxes. We have a good idea of who could likely be our number four, but anything is possible.”
Day two is when things get hectic. Teams need to be prepared to make changes on the fly, as certain players and positions quickly become unavailable between the second and 15th rounds.
Draft Day
When the big weekend comes, Seca said, “We should be trying to fill all the holes in our team. It’s about having the big picture perspective. “
This year is the first in-person draft since 2000, far before this year’s draft class was born. “I’m excited for the opportunity for the players and their families to have their moment. For us to play a small part in that experience, we are very excited,” said Seca.
In previous years, the draft was online, and teams had all the privacy they needed to make their picks. Seca said, “We are used to being in a room alone, no concerns of confidentiality, speaking openly. Now, you’re in a room in front of thousands of people and 19 other teams who are probably very curious about what you’re saying. We have to protect our info, which will be an adjustment for us all.”
The draft, which is set to take place at Slush Puppie Place in Kingston, is just under two weeks away. As draft weekend approaches, dozens of young players continue to chase their OHL dreams, hoping to hear their names called by a club like the Sarnia Sting. As Seca said, “They are all dreaming the way they should dream.”
