The Sarnia Sting are one of only two Ontario Hockey League teams without an import player after parting ways with Russian forward Ruslan Karimov.

Karimov was claimed off waivers Tuesday by the Regina Pats, so he’ll try in the Western Hockey League to rediscover the offensive flair that made him the fifth overall pick in the 2024 Canadian Hockey League import draft.

With no points in three games this season, the 18-year-old left-winger had fallen down the Sting’s depth chart.

“He just didn’t quite provide the pop we need in that position,” Sting general manager Dylan Seca said.

Karimov had 15 goals and 14 assists in 66 games last season as a rookie.

“If we’re going to have import players, they need to be impactful,” Seca said. “We thought last year he showed the promise of being kind o

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