‘They’re the gold standard’: New Sarnia Sting owners looking to replicate London Knights’ success

As CTV’s Brent Lale reports, a London businessman and a former London Knight are the new majority owners of the Sarnia Sting.

A prominent London businessman and a former London Knight are the new majority owners of the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Ryan Finch, president of Finch Auto Group, and Mark Guy, a former Knight and Western Mustang who has spent more than 25 years in the hockey world, have purchased the majority stake from current owner David Legwand.

During their media conference Monday in Point Edward, the two stressed their goal in purchasing the team was to not only keep it in Sarnia but also take the team to new heights. They want to not only host a Memorial Cup tournament but also win one.

They stressed their desire to replicate the success of their Highway 402 rivals in London.

“There’s no doubt they’re the gold standard,” said Guy. “The last three years you watched that team and how good they were and where they competed. That’s where we need to get to, to be successful. They work harder than anybody else and we’re going to make sure we match that. If not, beat it.”

Finch’s company is the title sponsor of the London Knights. Now he’s purchased the closest rival to his favourite junior hockey team.

“Business is all about competition, and the Hunters - Mark, Dylan, and Dale - are dear friends of mine, and I can’t wait to start competing against them,” said Finch. “I think they’re going to enjoy that, too. That’s what sports is all about.”

How will he manage his fandom with his new role?

“I mean the businesses in London are corporate sponsors of the team. They’re connected to the team for sure,” said Finch. “But our dealership in Sarnia is directly connected to the team. Now that we have an ownership position, this is where our heart is, from a hockey standpoint. I want to beat London so bad.”

To accomplish that feat, they’ll have to invest.

“It’s scouting, it’s development,” said Guy. “It’s making sure we have the right people in the right roles, and enough of the right people in the right roles to do it. It’s also about me personally being out and being on the road and being at games and scouting. The one thing that you always hear about Mark Hunter is there’s never a game that he’s not at, and we’ve got a match that we want to be able to compete.”

On the business side, they want to continue the improvements made under Legwand’s leadership.

“He’s done an incredible job digitizing the rink, getting the player development piece tight and he’s done an excellent job with this team,” said Finch. “Mark and I are just hoping to inject a couple of different ingredients and help the team kind of break through to that next level.”

Guy said he’s been coming to games in Sarnia for more than three decades, including when his son was the Sting’s captain. It became his home just over three years ago.

“There are some improvements that we’re going to speak to the city and work with some of our partners on to try to make a better fan experience. We’re always looking to add to that. We’ll be touring around different facilities, picking out some of the good things from them, both at the pro level and the junior level and hopefully bring some of that stuff back so our fans can have the best experience possible,” he said.

During the media conference, the Sting invited fans to attend.

Lynne Mazurek, a season ticket holder with the logo tattooed on her arm, couldn’t hold back her excitement.

“We’ve been waiting a long time to win a championship, and with this it’s going to happen,” said Mazurek. “We all know that it takes money, and Mr. Guy has the knowledge. We thrive to beat the Knights because they are the team to beat. There’s a rivalry and we’re going to do it.”

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley was around when the Newmarket Royals came to Sarnia with the Cicarelli family purchasing the team and the city constructing a new building.

“In the OHL, the market has proven the smaller communities are vibrant, they’re very engaged to the team,” said Bradley. “In this type of community, we know the team well. Even last year, which was a flat year for the team, there was 4,000 people at every game. Now we have a chance to up the rivalry with the evil London Knights, so it’s a banner day.”

Pending City Council approval, the new ownership group is expected to officially assume operations later this month.