Overagers Doucette, Surzycia and Filak Spark Sarnia In 5-2 Win Over Flint
By Carl Chimenti
It was a special night for the three overagers, as Tyson Doucette had a three-point night, Nick Surzycia stopped 17 of 19 shots and Zach Filak added an assist on the insurance goal, and the Sarnia Sting (22-32-6-7) defeated the Flint Firebirds (28-33-2-3) to keep there playoff hopes alive on Friday night, before the largest crowd of the season 4,608, at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Prior to the game the traditional overage ceremony was held with a super quality celebration for forward Tyson Doucette, goaltender Nick Surzycia and Assistant Captain center Zach Filak. Each player had the opportunity to thank everyone who had a part of the players success, which included both their families and billet families. Each of the three players honored received a framed Sarnia Sting jersey. Also, before the game the Sting honored Surzycia with the three-star award.
Doucette scored his 19th and 20th goals of the season and was selected as the first star, Surzycia the second star and Filak was named as the third star. A fitting end to cap their OHL careers with the Sarnia Sting. Doucette’s first goal came late in the first period in what proved to be the winning goal and his second goal at 3:04 of the third period was a very important insurance goal that pretty much put the game on ice. Ryan Brown scored 52 seconds later and that wrapped up the scoring for the Sting, in front of a very happy sold-out crowd at the Hive.
The Sting will hit the road for their very important final game of the 2024-25 campaign, Sunday afternoon (puck drop 2:05pm) in the Soo, against the Greyhounds, with the playoffs on the line. Filak and Lukas Fischer (St. Louis Blues) assisted on the insurance goal while Brown’s 16th of the year was unassisted at 3:56. Surzycia had a very strong outing making crucial saves when his team need them. The Sting dominated this game from the opening face-off out-shooting the Firebirds 38-19. Mitch Young had a two-point night, which included his 8th of the season and Ruslan Karimov added his 15th of the year. Alessandro Di lorio, Matthew Manza, Carson Hall, Beckham Edwards, Filak and Fischer had one assist each. On the power-play Sarnia went one for two and Flint 1/5.
With the Soo beating the Saginaw Spirit tonight, they clinched the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Owen Sound will wrap up their season Saturday night at home against the Guelph Storm.
Sarnia grabbed a 3-1 lead after dominating the first twenty minutes. Young put the Sting in front after finishing off a nice three-way passing play that started with Di lorio feeding Doucette and he sent the pass to Young who let a low shot that found the back of the net. The power-play goal came early at 4:12.
Flint tied the game with a power-play goal of their own at 8:10. Frolov was credited with the goal, on the Firebirds first shot on net. The lone assist went to Aspinall. Karimov put the Sting back in front with an even strength goal at 14:25. Hall, who did some fine work along the boards and Manza assisted on the scoring play.
Sarnia added their third goal with 22 seconds remaining at 19:38, as Doucette found a gapping hole following a rebound. Edwards and Young picked up the helpers. The Sting doubled up the shots over the Firebirds 16-8. In the second period Sarnia out-shot Flint 9-6, but the Firebirds scored the only goal and it came early at the 27 second mark. Colosimo was credited with the goal from Frolov and Jack D’Arcy.
