Voits bring brotherly love to Sting’s training camp

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Ty Voit couldn’t help but chuckle during his first day at training camp Thursday.

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The Sarnia Sting’s leading scorer last season was matched up against his younger brother Lear, a free-agent defenceman, during one-on-one drills at Progressive Auto Sales Arena.

“It went a little both ways,” Ty said. “He shut me down a little bit, but I got a little. I got to the net. That’s all I tried to do.

“I was laughing throughout because it’s just funny seeing him out there. It’s also fun getting to watch him play.”

Lear accepted a camp invitation after playing last season at Northstar Christian Academy in Alexandria, Minn.

After skating Tuesday and Wednesday with other prospects at the Sting’s orientation camp, he made the cut for the main camp.

“A little faster pace than I’m used to, but I like being able to play with faster, stronger hockey players,” he said. “I feel like it makes my game a lot better.”

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Ty and Lear were on the same team Thursday for split-squad workouts and a scrimmage. They’re scheduled to be teammates again for the annual Black and White intrasquad game at 6 p.m. Friday.

“We skate in the summers sometimes, but competitively this is the first time I’ve been on the ice with him since I was 10 years old,” Ty said.

Ty, 19, is the middle of five brothers in their Pittsburgh family and Lear, 17, is the second-youngest. The two oldest brothers – Lars, 23, and Ian, 21 – no longer play hockey and 12-year-old Liam is a few years away from trying out for the Sting.

Ty has already signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who chose him in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL draft. He may not return next season as an overager, so this could be his only chance to attend camp with Lear.

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“It’s cool seeing him up here,” Ty said. “I’m definitely proud to see him up here. It’s fun watching him skate against these guys.”

Lear is having a good time, too.

“It’s fun to have someone I’m always skating with out there,” he said. “It’s nice to be out there with him and share the ice.”

Lear had never been to the Sting’s home rink before this week. He’s watched Ty play in person, but usually in Erie, Pa.

Ty arrived in Sarnia three years ago as a highly touted prospect despite being only five-foot-seven at the time. Five-foot-eight Lear doesn’t want to be judged at camp by his size, either.

“I’m really just trying to showcase myself,” he said, “show that just because I’m probably one of the smallest D out there, that really doesn’t affect my game. I can show that I’m just as capable as someone that’s six-foot, 200 pounds.”

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Lear had 16 points in 55 games last season for Northstar’s U16 team. He describes himself as an offensive blue-liner.

“I like to keep the puck moving, so dish the puck, get it right back, beat you up in the play,” he said.

He spoke a year ago with Sting general manager Dylan Seca about attending camp but decided to wait until this year to accept the offer.

He also went to camp this summer with the Johnstown Tomahawks of the North American Hockey League. He’s slated to play this season for Gilmour Academy near Cleveland.

Lear is happy with his performance this week and looks forward to Friday’s intrasquad game.

“I’ve been moving the puck really well, getting up into plays,” he said. “It’ll be nice to get out there with some of the Sting players soon because I always think I play better with higher-level (players), so it’ll be nice to see how that goes.”