Barry Wright/The Independent

Sting fans have seen the last of Beckham Edwards in a Sarnia uniform.

The 18-year-old told interviewers at the NHL combine last weekend that he would not be returning to the Sting this season but enrolling at the University of Notre Dame instead.

Considered a steal as a third round selection in the OHL Priority Selection in 2024, he had 25 goals and 45 points in 62 games in his inaugural season and was in contention for the league’s rookie of the year award.

This past season his production dipped to 19 goals and 44 points in 64 games.

Edwards committed to the Fighting Irish last August saying he would leave “when my time in the OHL comes to an end.” He did not specify what that time frame meant.

The London-born Edwards is expected to be a second or third-round pick at the NHL draft in Buffalo later this month.

Edwards, Alessandro Di Iorio and recent import draft choice Simon Katolicky of the Sting all finished in the top ten of various fitness testing events at the combine.

Edwards won the No Arm Jump at 20.9 inches and was tied for first in the Pro-Agility Shuttle with a time of 4.2 seconds.

Meantime, at the same interview session, Di Iorio said he would be returning to the Sting for a third season in 2026-27. He was
named captain midway through last season following Lukas Fischer’s trade to the Soo Greyhounds.

The second overall pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection had 12 goals and 31 points in an injury-shortened season last year.

The Sting has also announced that its 2026-27 home opener will be against the Soo Greyhounds on Oct. 2. London’s first home game will be against Windsor on Sept. 18.

The full league schedule is to be released next week.