Mark Malone

The Sarnia Sting traded the rights to St. Louis Blues prospect Nick Bogas to the Flint Firebirds for defenceman Landon Pickersgill and four draft picks. Pickersgill, an 18-year-old Windsor native, recorded 13 goals and 27 assists with the Leamington Flyers last season and is committed to Lake Superior State University. Bogas, selected by St. Louis in the fifth round of the NHL draft, never reported to Sarnia and is committed to Michigan State. The Sting also announced their training-camp schedule, including a United Way fundraising game.

The Sarnia Sting are entering training camp with 60 players after giving athletes detailed offseason development plans and maintaining regular contact throughout the summer. General manager Dylan Seca praised head coach Mathieu Turcotte’s preparation and said the team has addressed nearly all of its offseason needs following three consecutive seasons without an OHL playoff appearance. Competition for roster spots is expected to be intense because of increased organizational depth, with the Sting aiming to carry 23 or 24 players and potentially add an impactful over-age player after camp and preseason evaluation.

Walpole Island’s Cheryl Mitchell won the women’s overall title at the Ontario Indigenous golf championship for the fifth time, finishing seven under par and 18 strokes ahead at MontHill Golf and Country Club. The roundup also reports former Chatham-Kent Barnstormers infielder Evan Morrison’s promotion to the Texas Rangers’ High-A affiliate, where he made his debut, and the Barnstormers’ 14–9 comeback win over Guelph. Chatham’s Brock Whitson is competing with the Windsor Stars at the Canadian senior baseball championship in Miramichi, New Brunswick.

Portland Fire head coach Alex Sarama is campaigning for Bridget Carleton to win the WNBA's Most Improved Player award, highlighting her major increase in usage, scoring and three-point attempts while maintaining or improving her efficiency. After averaging 5.8 points per game during her Minnesota Lynx career, Carleton is averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals this season. Sarama argues that advanced metrics, shooting difficulty and improved defense make her case stronger than box-score statistics alone, while acknowledging that several other players are also deserving candidates.

The Chatham Maroons opened training camp with 20 players signed and only one forward spot, plus possibly one defensive position, still available. Head coach Brennan Feasey emphasized that no player’s roster place is guaranteed, despite the team returning from a strong regular season that ended in a Greater Ontario Hockey League Western Conference semifinal loss. The young roster includes 11 rookies, while several players are attending OHL or other junior-hockey camps. Chatham will use four preseason games against the LaSalle Vipers and Sarnia Legionnaires to evaluate younger players and potential affiliate players before opening its regular season on Sept. 12 and hosting its home opener on Sept. 13.

The Guelph Royals defeated the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers 14–4 at Fergie Jenkins Field after hitting three first-inning home runs off Mizuki Akatsuka. Chatham-Kent’s Lee Kucera and Owen Constantineau each hit two-run homers, but the Barnstormers remained last in the Canadian Baseball League at 10–29. Akatsuka took the loss after allowing nine runs in 3.1 innings, while Dylan Kints provided four solid innings in relief.

Carter Claerhout expects his power hitting to improve as he finishes his first professional season with the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers. Since joining at the trade deadline, the 23-year-old first baseman has hit .333/.429/.500 with one home run and eight RBIs in eight games, following outstanding seasons at Bellevue University and with the Lethbridge Bulls. After a brief, disappointing stint with the Ottawa Titans, Claerhout joined Chatham-Kent to replace production lost when four all-stars departed and has also moved to full-time outfield. He says he is enjoying the adjustment and intends to maintain his line-drive approach while taking advantage of the short right-field porch at Fergie Jenkins Field.

Former Chatham Maroons forward Jaxon Priddle has committed to four years of NCAA Division III hockey at Buffalo State while studying business administration. The 21-year-old Sarnia native recorded a career-high 53 points in 50 Greater Ontario Hockey League games last season and 151 points in 185 GOHL games overall. Buffalo State coach Steve Murphy expects Priddle to contribute offensively and play throughout the lineup. Priddle chose Buffalo State for its proximity to family, academic stability and opportunities for co-ops and internships. He is also looking forward to facing former Maroons teammate Braeden Burke when Buffalo State hosts SUNY Canton on Jan. 9.

The Sarnia Sting announced several promotional events for the upcoming OHL season, including a teddy bear toss, toy drive, Christmas celebration, Battle of the Badges and Indigenous heritage game. Sarnia shortstop Core Jackson was promoted to the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate after a productive High-A season. The roundup also reports Michael Gregus’s standout performance at the Canadian 22U baseball championship, Mark Woolley’s signing with the Alvinston Killer Bees, Port Lambton’s 22U championship victory, two new Sarnia Legionnaires recruits and Natalie Ghobril-Smith joining Lambton College women’s soccer.

Wallaceburg catcher Lucas Laprise and Chatham pitcher Brody Steinman won gold with the Windsor Selects in the Canadian 22U baseball championship, defeating Manitoba’s Carillon Sultans 5-0 in the final at Tecumseh’s Lacasse Park. Laprise drove in the opening run with a fourth-inning double and batted .375 with six RBIs and seven walks across six games. Steinman, called up from the 18U Selects, pitched 2.1 relief innings over two appearances. Both players are eligible to return next year, when the championship will be held in Winkler, Manitoba, with the Selects targeting a third consecutive title.

Paisley Fraleigh of Chatham won gold with Team Ontario at the Football Canada under-18 women's national championship in Regina. Ontario defeated Alberta 9-0 in the round-robin finale and Quebec 68-8 in the championship game, finishing 5-0 with a 183-20 scoring advantage. Fraleigh, who played defensive back and linebacker, also won a provincial title with the London Wolfpaac and continues to play and coach football in the Chatham-Kent community.

The Chatham-Kent Barnstormers are expected to miss the Canadian Baseball League playoffs for the first time in franchise history under the league’s new format, which sends only five of nine teams to the postseason. The last-place Barnstormers entered a demanding week at 9–27 and on a six-game losing streak, with games scheduled against Hamilton, London, Guelph, Toronto and Welland. Julien Monks returned from the injured list, prompting the release of Brian Parry, while rookie Carter Claerhout emerged as a recent offensive bright spot. The team still has a chance to finish sixth.