Energy Minister says proposed pipeline will protect Canadians, put Sarnians to work
File Photo
Sports Briefs: Petrolia’s Dobbin joins St. Mary’s Lincolns
July 9, 2026
Barry Wright/The Independent
Brian Dobbin has joined the Greater Ontario Hockey League’s St. Mary’s Lincolns as an assistant coach.
The Petrolia-born former Mooretown Flag most recently was the head coach of the Elgin Middlesex U18 AAA team in 2024-25.
Dobbin, 59, was a fifth round draft choice of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1984. He was inducted into the Hershey Bears Hall of Fame in 2023.
•••
Former Sting Sandis Vilmanis has signed a new two-year deal with the NHL’s Florida Panthers. The left-shot power winger was originally a fifth-round pick by the Florida in 2022.
“Sandis is a skilled, competitive young player whose positive attitude and strong work ethic have allowed him to succeed at every opportunity he has earned,” said Panthers General Manager Bill Zito.
Meantime, two other former Sting defencemen have signed two-way NHL contracts. Christian Kyrou has inked a deal with Ottawa and Cam Dineen with Philadelphia.
•••
The Alvinston Riverhawks and the Wyoming Wranglers both advanced to the playoffs at the recent under-17 tier-two PWSA tournament in Stratford.
The Riverhawks finished third in its division with a record of 1-1-2 losing to the eventual champions from Tavistock in the
playoffs.
Wyoming tied for third in its pool with a record of 1-2-1 bowing to the tournament finalists from Arthur in their playoff game.
•••
The Corunna Lady Giants under-11 select softball team won silver at a recent tournament in Leamington.
The Giants beat the host team, 9-6 in the semi-finals but lost to LaSalle-Gold in the final.
The Lady Giants also beat the Chatham-Kent Golden Eagles and the LaSalle Athletics-Green squad in the preliminary round.
•••
Lifelong friends have committed to the Lambton College baseball team.
Brock Lane, a pitcher and outfielder is a member of the Port Lambton Pirates 18u squad while first baseman/outfielder Caleb Rosseel plays for the Pirates’ 22U team.
Off the diamond, both are talented hockey players. Lane had 11 goaltending wins for Komoka of the GOHL last season. Rosseel had 35 points in 35 games with the Mooretown Flags.
NEXT
OPP look for missing Crime Stoppers sign in Thedford
PREVIOUS
Whoops: Local plowing match officials back track, confirms Brigden will host 2027 IPM after all
Front Page
Energy Minister says proposed pipeline will protect Canadians, put Sarnians to work
July 15, 2026
Cathy Dobson/Local Journalism Initiative Ontario’s Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce was in Sarnia Wednesday rallying support for a new all-Canadian pipeline from Alberta to Ontario that would remove dependency on the U.S. for crude oil delivery. The 3,300-kilometre Northern Shield Energy Corridor is proposed from Hardisty Alberta to Sarnia-Lambton’s refining hub, and would travel through Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northern
Read More
Front Page
Burn ban in affect in Plympton-Wyoming
July 15, 2026
The Independent Plympton-Wyoming has an open air burn ban in effect. The town’s Open Air Burn bylaw says burning isn’t allowed on poor air quality or smog days. Environment Canada has issued an orange air quality warning because of the smoke from wildfires in Northern Ontario. Officials say smoke from an open fire can further degrade the air quality. Town
Read More
Front Page
Former principal joins Petrolia council race
July 15, 2026
Second mayoralty candidate in Brooke-Alvinston Heather Wright/The Independent A former LCCVI principal has thrown his hat into the ring for Petrolia council. Greg Nemcek filed to run for a councillor’s position Monday. Nemcek retired last year and currently is the chair of the Lambton OPP Detatchment Group board. He’s one of five people running for the councillor seats – only
Read More
Front Page
Air quality deteriorates because of wildfire smoke
July 15, 2026
FROM LAMBTON PUBLIC HEALTH Lambton Public Health is encouraging residents to take precautions following an ‘Orange Warning – Air Quality’ issued for Sarnia-Lambton by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and Environment and Climate Change Canada. This warning is issued when the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is forecast to reach, or has reached, the ‘very high-risk’ category
Read More