Watford mourns loss of long-time firefighter
Metcalfe Photography
The bears rained down at Progressive Auto Sales Arena - but it took a while. Jack Van Volsen scored in the third to send the bears to the ice.
The Power of the Bear: Sting snap six game skid
December 4, 2025
Barry Wright/The Independent
Jack Van Volsen played a large part in Sarnia snapping a six-game losing skid beating the Flint Firebirds, 3-2 in a shootout on Teddy Bear Toss Sunday before 4,047 fans at Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
The veteran winger got the party started by scoring the first Sting goal of the game in the opening minute of the third period and then scored what proved to the decisive goal in the shootout.
The Sting win, the first for new head coach Matthieu Turcotte, snapped Flint’s 11-game winning streak. The Soo had beaten the Sting, 6-2 in Turcotte’s debut last Friday.
After a scoreless first two periods, Van Volsen scored off a pass from Alessandro Di Iorio to bring down 4,375 bears and other stuffed animals to be distributed to the less fortunate over the holiday season.
Flint then took a 2-1 lead before Beckham Edwards scored the equalizer, his team-leading tenth of the season, with just 3:08 left in regulation time.
Patrick Quinlan stopped 25 of 27 shots in regulation time and then two of three in the shootout to snap a personal nine-game winless streak. It was his first win on home ice in more than two months.
The win also snapped a six-game losing streak by the Sting in Teddy Bear Toss games dating back to 2017 and improved their shootout record in the traditional holiday game to 4-1.
Sarnia, 7-14-4, is now preparing for a three game road swing through northern Ontario.
They take on the Battalion in North Bay on Thursday, visit the Wolves in Sudbury on Friday and skate against the Greyhounds in the Soo on Sunday afternoon.
Front Page
Watford mourns loss of long-time firefighter
September 17, 2026
Milner served the Watford Fire Service for 60 years The Independent Keith Milner is being remembered for his life-long commitment to his community, family and friends. Milner had served as a Watford firefighter for 55 years and the caretaker of the Watford fire hall for another five years before his retirement from the department. He passed away Saturday. In a
Read More
Front Page
Dream Home lottery to support CEEH redevelopment
September 17, 2026
The Independent The Bluewater Health Foundation have kicked off this year’s Dream Home Lottery. The funds raised by the lottery for a fully-furnished $1.9 million home in Camlachie will help support the $20 million redevelopment of Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital’s emergency department and to help purchase diagnostic imaging equipment. In its 32-year history, the lottery has raised $11 million for
Read More
Front Page
The Legionnaires start fresh after difficult season
September 17, 2026
Barry Wright/The Independent The first step in erasing the dubious memory of last season’s record-setting winless season comes this week for the GOHL’s Sarnia Legionnaires. With new ownership and a revamped coaching staff and roster, Sarnia takes on the Komoka Kings on Thursday (Sept. 17) at Pat Stapleton Arena. Game time is 7 p.m. Sting prospect Ethan Glavin will wear
Read More
Front Page
Lambton launches $3.5 million campaign for Stones ‘N Bones Museum
September 17, 2026
The Independent Lambton County has launched a $3.5 million fundraising campaign to help create the Stones ‘N Bones Museum and transform the Sarnia Library. The campaign launched Sept. 10, with the Alix Foundation providing a $500,000 contribution designated for the children’s library. ““We hope this investment will help create meaningful experiences for children and families, inspiring a lifelong connection to
Read More