The Sarnia Sting have announced the signing of Russian goaltender Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko to a Standard Player Agreement, a move that adds a highly regarded prospect to the roster for the upcoming 2026‑27 OHL season.
Draft pedigree and early career
Selected tenth overall in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, Tkach-Tkachenko brings a blend of size and experience that attracted attention from both the Canadian Hockey League and NHL scouts.
The 6‑foot‑3, 185‑pound left‑catching netminder honed his game with Ufa Tolpar in the MHL during the 2025‑26 campaign, posting a 2.80 goals‑against average and a .894 save percentage across 27 appearances.
His draft trajectory also includes a fifth‑round selection by the Utah Mammoth in the 2025 NHL Draft, underscoring his NHL pedigree and raising expectations for his transition to North American ice.
Coaches and teammates alike anticipate that the young goaltender will compete for a starting role, and he is slated to arrive in Sarnia in August to take part in training camp ahead of the new season.