Played on Dec 17, 2025
Game Played in Progressive Auto Sales Arena
General Game Notes: December 17, 2025 – Sarnia, ON- Carson Campbell (#8) paced the Kitchener Rangers with a goal and an assist as they earned a convincing 5-2 road victory over the Sarnia Sting. The Rangers controlled the tempo throughout the night, generating sustained offensive pressure and limiting Sarnia’s chances to secure the win away from home.
Jason Schaubel (G, L, 5’11”, 172, Kitchener Rangers, 08/30/2008)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Schaubel is somewhat undersized by modern goaltending standards, but he’s an excellent skater who fully utilizes his edge work to execute sharp movements and consistently hit his spots. He’s effective in the RVH, showing the ability to hinge in and out of his posts and recover quickly to his feet to smother pucks. He competes hard through traffic and, in bang-bang situations, battles for pucks and does what’s necessary to make the save. He also has active hands, allowing him to control shots from distance without dropping pucks and creating unnecessary second-chance opportunities.
Jakub Chromiak (D, R, 6’0″, 199, Kitchener Rangers, 11/02/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Chromiak shows strong puck skills and can stick-handle his way out of pressure. For example, on the power play he carried the puck into the offensive zone on his own and, despite pressure, made a series of nifty moves to buy time and create space for both himself and his linemates. In the defensive zone, he’s a puck mover first, relying on his ability to play with the puck rather than without it. He’s capable of making high-end plays, finding teammates cutting underneath or through the middle-lanes many players are hesitant to use. At times he can get a bit too cute, but the ability is evident and his skill set is high.
Carson Campbell (D, R, 6’0″, 197, Kitchener Rangers, 06/08/2006)
Game Rating
B
Campbell’s defensive skills are solid, with an active stick that helps him disrupt opposing players’ plays in his own end. His ability to maintain a physical presence along the boards is noteworthy, as it allows him to effectively block shots and protect against counter-attacks on the penalty kill. On offense, Campbell’s skating is a significant asset, enabling him to quickly retrieve pucks and separate from defenders, which facilitates efficient transitions up the ice. He also demonstrates vision by making tape-to-tape passes to his teammates. While he occasionally takes risks in joining the rush, he tends to prioritize playing it safe and maintaining defensive responsibilities.
1 Viewing
Comments: Campbell is a lead-by-example type of player. He finishes his checks, plays hard, and consistently does the little things right. He’s a valuable player to have on your team because he’s reliable and predictable in a positive way. Defensively, he’s strong in his own zone, blocking shots and winning puck battles, and he’s often difficult to beat to the net. While his offensive skill set isn’t high-end, he showed good instincts by finding a loose puck in the slot and ripping a wrist shot top shelf for his first goal of the year. His defensive contributions, ability to limit mistakes, and commitment to playing the game the right way make him the type of player every team wants.
Cameron Arquette (RW, R, 5’8″, 171, Kitchener Rangers, 04/27/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Arquette’s energy is infectious. He’s constantly moving his feet, attacking puck carriers and applying pressure that often forces mistakes. He picked pockets and generated offense through his willingness to win puck battles. He plays a chip-and-chase style game, preferring to place pucks and retrieve them rather than trying to beat defenders one-on-one. He’s a good skater who reads the play well at full speed, particularly away from the puck. While he isn’t a high-end offensive threat, he consistently does the little things right and provides a spark every time he’s on the ice.
Haeden Ellis (C, R, 5’8″, 172, Kitchener Rangers, 03/07/2007, Northeastern)
Game Rating
B+
Ellis showcases a dynamic skill set as a speedy forward with an upright skating stride, allowing him to maintain control and drive toward the net. His ability to take defenders wide and create space is impressive, making it difficult for opponents to keep up with his pace. He excels at creating chances through off-the-rush plays, often setting up himself in prime scoring positions by receiving passes from teammates moving quickly to set him up. Ellis also possesses a quick-release shot that can generate second-chance opportunities.
1 Viewing
Comments: Ellis did an excellent job on the forecheck and was rewarded for it in two separate scenarios. First, he picked a pocket in the offensive zone and quickly ripped a shot that beat the goaltender, showing both his grit and determination to win the puck and the offensive instincts to capitalize immediately. Second, he chipped the puck in deep, engaged physically, won the puck battle, and made a beautiful pass into the slot where his teammate made no mistake. These were just two examples of his ability to read plays, force turnovers, and create offense. Throughout the game, he consistently did the little things right, with his hockey IQ on display at all times.
Tanner Lam (RW, R, 5’10”, 163, Kitchener Rangers, 07/17/2007)
Game Rating
B
Lam showcased his hockey IQ through clever playmaking skills, particularly in the early stages of the game. He demonstrated poise on the ice, as evidenced by his ability to maintain possession while falling to the ground. His persistence in pursuing pucks down the ice was evident, and he successfully exploited defensive vulnerabilities to create scoring chances.
1 Viewing
Comments: Lam showed good chemistry with his linemates, helping maintain possession and create effective cycle plays. He isn’t afraid to get to the net and competes for ice, often getting his stick on loose pucks in high-traffic areas. He has quick hands and the ability to work himself out of trouble or into dangerous scoring positions. While he’s effective in sustained offensive-zone play, he also showed strong ability off the rush, using his skill and speed to generate chances.
Luca Romano (C, R, 5’11”, 178, Kitchener Rangers, 06/25/2007)
Game Rating
B
Romano demonstrated strong hockey skills in this game, showcasing his ability to play with speed and skill. He excelled at handling the puck in tight spaces, using his stick-handling to create scoring opportunities. His pace allowed him to quickly get into key areas of the ice, receiving pucks and releasing shots on net before opponents could react.
1 Viewing
Comments: Romano is an intelligent offensive player who processes the game quickly. He reads pressure well and shows a strong understanding of spacing, often putting himself in positions where he can receive pucks in stride or make quick touch plays. His awareness allows him to contribute without needing to dominate possession, which was evident in his scoring chances as he consistently found soft spots to get shots on net. He also showcased his skating in transition, frequently attacking off the rush and utilizing his linemates with an aggressive, attack-minded approach, both with and without the puck.
Cameron Aucoin (F, L, 5’11”, 160, Lloydminster Bobcats, 06/04/2001)
Game Rating
B
Aucoin demonstrated a solid understanding of situational play in his own end, often making informed decisions under pressure to safely clear the puck or facilitate transition. He effectively read forecheckers, allowing him to anticipate and disrupt plays along the walls. This allowed him to close gaps on opponents and create turnovers. Aucoin also showed a willingness to get involved offensively, looking to create chaos in traffic and support his teammates when possible. While he may still have some development to do, Aucoin’s decision-making and anticipation make him a strong asset for his team.
1 Viewing
Comments: Aucoin consistently makes simple, effective plays and rarely overcomplicates the game. He often opts for the safe, tape-to-tape option rather than forcing stretch passes through the neutral zone. His skating is a strength and is utilized well in both defensive and offensive situations – he maintains strong gap control in his own end, while also having the confidence and mobility to carry pucks forward and support the attack. He’s a reliable passer and can contribute offensively with shots from the blue line, showing an ability to find shooting lanes and use traffic effectively.
Ben Pickell (LW, L, 5’10”, 187, Sarnia Sting, 07/20/2005, Robert Morris)
Game Rating
B-
Pickell is a forward who consistently brings a high level of energy to the game, using his speed and agility to create momentum for his team. He excels at regaining possession by chipping pucks behind opponents and quickly re-establishing himself in play. On offense, Pickell is adept at driving cycles with his linemates and finding ways to get quality shots on goal. His ability to move into the slot and generate scoring opportunities makes him a reliable source of offense for his team.
1 Viewing
Comments: Pickell is a reliable, two-way forward who prioritizes the game in his own end before transitioning to offense. He stops on pucks in the defensive zone, supports teammates in battles, and isn’t afraid to dig when necessary. He’s a trusted penalty killer, getting low to disrupt plays, and leads by example by blocking shots when called upon. Offensively, he keeps his feet moving and shows a willingness to get to hard areas, despite being on the smaller side.
Jack Van Volsen (C, L, 6’2″, 192, Sarnia Sting, 01/12/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Van Volsen has an absolute rip of a shot. He features a quick, deceptive release that he can get off while in motion, with real power behind it. He opened the scoring by receiving a pass off the rush and snapping a bullet short-side, top shelf, beating the goaltender cleanly. Beyond the goal, he consistently generated offense with his shot, while also showing hunger and grit in winning puck battles and extending plays in the offensive zone. He’s a smart player who uses his hockey IQ to place pucks where he can retrieve them, and he reads the game well in all three zones
Alessandro Di Iorio (C, R, 6’0″, 193, Sarnia Sting, 03/17/2008)
Game Rating
B-
Di Iorio’s shooting ability is notable, particularly on the power play, where he can unleash a heavy shot from the flank. His quick release allows him to generate significant power behind the puck. During a rush play, Di Iorio was able to hit the post by using a defender as a screen and taking advantage of his powerful shot. While he has other skills, his shooting is a notable aspect of his game.
1 Viewing
Comments: Di Iorio was a bright spot for the Sting in a game where they were largely outplayed. Despite the circumstances, he acted as an offensive driver and consistently found ways to generate quality looks in the offensive zone. Off the rush in particular, he wasn’t afraid to use his speed to attack defenders and get pucks to the net. He was able to get shots through traffic, utilizing a quick, effective release while in motion.
Tyler Challenger (LW, L, 6’2″, 202, Sarnia Sting, 04/13/2008)
Game Rating
B-
This player’s skill set is characterized by a commanding presence on the ice, driving to create plays with the puck and establishing position in high-danger areas. He effectively uses his size to push defenders back and gets to the slot, utilizing his long reach to locate loose pucks for scoring opportunities. He demonstrates impressive puck-handling ability, navigating through traffic with confidence and making extra plays when presented with opportunities. His agility allows him to separate from opponents using his edges, despite being a larger forward. While not fully polished at times, his raw talent is evident, suggesting a high ceiling for this player’s development.
1 Viewing
Comments: Challenger plays with an edge and isn’t afraid to toe the line. He’s physical and uses his larger frame to finish checks along the walls. He brings an ‘in-your-face’ style of play, but there’s skill to go with it. He can make plays, often winning puck battles and distributing the puck with the intent of getting to the net-front area. That’s where he’s most effective, serving as a screen or tip option and creating problems for opposing goaltenders.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images