Barry Wright
When former Sarnia Sting players Anthony DeAngelo and Bryan Moore were once interviewed on Sting Buzz on TVCOGECO, the two U.S-born players joked about an oddity in their adopted home - milkbags.
They had never seen them in their respective home states of New Jersey and North Carolina, and wondered why milkbags are so prevalent in Ontario.
Now, the pair can continue musing about Canadian milk habits in Sault Ste. Marie, where they’ve been reunited.
A year after Moore and defenseman Tyler Hore were dealt to the Greyhounds, DeAngelo was traded to Sault Ste. Marie last week in exchange for 16-year-old forward Anthony Salinitri and three draft choices.
Salinitri, a Windsor native, was chosen late in the first round by the Greyhounds in the OHL Priority Selection last April.
He had a goal and six assists in 21 games with the Soo this season and represented Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sarnia-Lambton three months ago.
“The addition of Anthony [Salinitri] is one that bodes well for the future of this hockey club,” said Sting General Manager Nick Sinclair.
“He is a player we thought highly about in his draft year, and are excited to have him as part of our young nucleus moving forward.”
Last season, Salinitri was named Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario Player of the Year as a member of the Windsor Jr. Spitfires.
DeAngelo received a warm ovation from the Sting faithful when honoured at last Thursday's game for his play with Team USA at the recent World Junior Hockey Championships He said he’s sad to leave the club that drafted him in the second round in 2011, but is looking forward to the opportunity of perhaps winning a title with the highly touted Greyhounds.
“I can't thank everyone in this great (Sting) organization enough for what they have done for me,” he tweeted after the deal was finalized. “Loved playing in this town throughout my career.”
The smooth-skating rearguard surpassed Mark Katic for the all-time franchise lead in points by a blueliner earlier this season, but the deal puts a halt to DeAngelo's chance of becoming the top overall goal scorer by a defenseman in Sting history.
He leaves town with 40 career goals, compared to 44 amassed by current Sting assistant coach Andy Delmore over three seasons in the 1990's.
DeAngelo's next appearance on RBC ice will be Monday, Feb. 16 when the Hounds visit Sarnia for the Sting's annual Family Day affair. Game time is 2:05 pm.
The Sting also ended the Vladislav Kodola era in Sarnia by sending the import from Belarus to Saginaw in exchange for a fifth round draft choice on Jan. 9
The Sting also acquired defenceman Josh Defarias from the London Knights in exchange for a 7th round pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.