Sarnia has a rich sporting history, particularly in hockey.
Sarnia has a rich sporting history, particularly in hockey. The Imperial City has produced dozens of elite-level hockey players over the years, some forging illustrious careers for themselves in top-tier competitions, with some making it to the very top and turning out for famous National Hockey League (NHL) franchises.
This article celebrates five of Sarnia’s most famous hockey-playing sons, including a Hockey Hall of Famer, who, to this day, continue inspiring the next generation of would-be hockey players who proudly call Sarnia home.
Dino Ciccarelli was born in Sarnia in February 1960, and it was apparent he would make it in the hockey world from an early age. As a 15-year-old playing for the Sarnia Jr. ‘B’ team, he scored 45 goals and 43 assists for 88 points in only 40 games. A year later, Ciccarelli joined the London Knights of the OMJHL and finished fifth in team scoring in his debut season. Michigan online sports betting apps were not around when Ciccarelli was a youngster, but if they had, they would have made him a short price to be selected early in the NHL Draft.
Despite obvious attacking talent, Ciccarelli was not selected in the NHL Entry Draft. However, he signed a contract with the Minnesota North Stars in September 1979. He made his professional hockey debut with the Oklahoma City Stars of the CHL toward the end of the 1979-80 season. Between 1980 and 1989, Ciccarelli played 602 games for the Minnesota North Stars, scoring 332 goals and providing 319 assists for 651 points.
Ciccarelli joined the Washington Capitals as part of a multi-player trade in 1989. He spent four seasons there before joining the Detroit Red Wings. After four seasons in Detroit, Ciccarelli played two seasons for the Tampa Bay Lightning before ending his playing career with the Florida Panthers at the end of the 1998-99 campaign. Ciccarelli played 1,232 regular season games, scored 608 goals, 592 assists, and amassed 1,200 points.
Although controversy marred Ciccarelli’s image, the Hockey Hall of Fame inducted him in 2010, eight years after becoming eligible. His 608 career NHL goals are the most scored by a draft-eligible player who was not drafted by an NHL team.
Pat Stapleton holds legendary status among Sarnia’s hockey fraternity, and it is easy to see why. Stapleton began his hockey career with the Sarnia Legionnaires, helping them to two Western Jr. ‘B’ championships and one Sutherland Cup. Despite Stapleton being a defenceman, he led the team in scoring during his second season.
Stapleton made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins during the 1961-62 season, but he is best remembered for his performances for the Chicago Blackhawks. During the 1968-69 regular season, Stapleton scored 50 assists, setting an NHL record for assists by a defenceman. Bobby Orr broke the record the following season, but Stapleton was the first.
Stapleton jumped from the NHL to the World Hockey Association in 1973, where he was the player-coach for the Chicago Cougars and Indianapolis Racers before retiring with the Cincinnati Stingers.
Sadly, Stapleton died in April 2020 at the age of 79. In September 2022, the Sarnia Arena was renamed the Pat Stapleton Arena in his honor.
Michael “Mike” Stapleton is the son of the late Pat Stapleton, so hockey was in his blood. Stapleton Jr. is best known for spending 14 seasons in the NHL. During this time, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, Atlanta Thrashers, New York Islanders, and the Vancouver Canucks.
The talented center played 687 NHL regular season games, scoring 71 goals, 111 assists, and 182 points. After calling time on his NHL career in 2001, Stapleton headed to Europe. He played in Finland and Sweden.
Since retiring from playing, Stapleton has tried his arm at coaching and as a scout. Since May 2024, Stapleton has been the Director of Player Personnel for the Anaheim Ducks.
Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, but a Sarnia family adopted and raised him. McKegney played Jr. ‘B’ hockey in Sarnia like his adoptive brother. Aged 20, McKegney signed for the Birmingham Bulls of the now-defunct World Hockey Association, only for the franchise’s owner to go back on the deal after fans threatened to boycott the team for adding a black player to its roster. McKegney was used to overcoming adversity, and the setback made him even more determined to make it in hockey.
The WHA’s loss was the NHL’s gain because McKegney became a legitimate hockey star. He played for the Buffalo Sabres, Quebec Nordiques, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, and the Chicago Blackhawks. During his NHL career, McKegney played 912 regular season games, scoring 320 goals and 319 assists. He became the first black player to score 40 goals in a single season and registered nine 20-goal seasons.
Wayne Merrick played center throughout his career and was known for his toughness, willingness to do the dirty work, and sacrifice of personal glory for the good of his team. After starting his career with the Ottowa 67s of the OHA-Jr. League, the St. Louis Blues selected Merrick as the ninth overall pick of the 1972 NHL Draft.
Merrick spent 13 seasons in the NHL, racking up 774 regular-season games, 191 goals, and 265 assists. He also made 102 playoff appearances, scoring 19 goals and 30 assists. Merrick is best known for being a tough-tackling player who added steel to the talented New York Islanders team of the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders and scored the Cup-clinching goal in Game Five of the 1981 Stanley Cup Finals.
