Chatham Maroons Explained

The Chatham Maroons are a junior ice hockey team based in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). The Maroons were the 1970 Western Ontario Junior A Champions and 1973 Southern Ontario Junior A Champions. The Maroons have won multiple Junior B league titles and the 1999 Sutherland Cup as Ontario Hockey Association Junior B Champions. In the 2021-2022 season, the Maroons won the GOJHL Western Conference Championship 4-2 over the Leamington Flyers. The Maroons dedicated their Championship in honour of their longtime equipment manager and team volunteer, Randy DeWael, who died suddenly during the playoffs.

History

The Maroons originated in the Border Cities Junior B Hockey League in 1959. The team later moved to the stronger Western Junior "B" league in 1964 and continued with the league, even when it became the renegade Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League in 1970. The Maroons left the league in 1976, became the Maple City Fords and rejoined the current Western Junior "B" league. The Maroons became the MicMacs in 1988, but switched back to their traditional "Maroons" moniker in 1995.

At the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Ryan Jones was drafted as a Maroon in the fourth round by the Minnesota Wild, 111th overall. He attended and played for Miami University. After his collegiate career, Minnesota traded Jones to the Nashville Predators.

The Maroons participated in the 2006 Sutherland Cup round robin, but lost out to the Niagara Falls Canucks and the Cambridge Winterhawks with a 1-3 record.

The Maroons began the 2013-14 season slowly and resorted to trading for four of their territorial rival's, the Lambton Shores Predators, top players (Kyle Brothers, Adam Arsenault, Tanner Ferguson, and Connor Annett) in a series of high-profile trades for players and cash.[1] The Maroons also released 2012-13 starting all-star goaltender Darien Ekblad and replaced him with the Cambridge Winter Hawks' goaltender Jacob Keogh while picking up NOJHL Jr. A forward Kyle Rowe.[2] Ekblad would get picked up by the Junior C Essex 73's and tend them to a Great Lakes League championship.[3] Right before the trade deadline, the Maroons picked up forward Charlie Izaguirre from the fizzling Port Colborne Pirates for cash and prospects.[4] On January 28, 2014, the Ontario Hockey Association ruled against the Maroons for exceeding their limit on import players. General Manager Bill Szekesy was suspended for an entire season and the franchise fined $4500. In addition, during the 2014-15 season, the Maroons will be limited to 30 cards instead of the usual 35.[5] On February 19, 2014, the OHA announced that despite a Maroons' appeal, the punishment will stand. In addition, two wins were stripped from their record (versus Leamington Flyers and St. Marys Lincolns).[6] Despite the trades and controversies, the Maroons would sweep the Western Conference quarter-final against the Strathroy Rockets and semi-final against the LaSalle Vipers, before being quashed 4-games-to-1 in the conference final by the Leamington Flyers.[7]

The Maroons have since remained a strong presence in the ultra competitive Western Conference of the GOJHL. In 2017-18 the Maroons were only able to secure the 6th seed in the playoffs but upset a major rival the Lasalle Vipers in a highly competitive 7 game series in which the Maroons trailed the series 2-0 and 3-2 before prevailing. The Maroons would then battle the 1 seed London Nationals in another highly competitive series. The Maroons took game one in a classic game on a Bryce Yetman double overtime goal. However the Maroons would not be able to overcome the Nationals high powered offense and suffering defense and fell in 6 games.

In the offseason the Maroons made many moves to attempt to once again rain supreme over the West acquiring many veterans of various junior leagues highlighted by the acquisition of Nolan Gardiner, a former Ottawa 67, from the Caledonia Corvairs.

In the 2018 - 2019 season, the Maroons placed a competitive 3rd out of the 9 teams in the Western Conference. However, they would fall to the 6th seed Komoka Kings in 5 Games in the first round of the playoffs. The 2019 - 2020 season was cut short due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. There was no playoff games played in the 2020 Sutherland Cup, and the entire 2020-2021 season was cancelled.

In the 2021 - 2022 season, the Western Conference remained very competitive with there being only a 7 point difference between the first place Leamington Flyers and the third place Maroons. The Maroons began the Western Conference playoffs on a strong note beating 6th seed Komoka Kings in 5 games.[8] In the second round, they faced frequent rivals, London Nationals without home ice advantage in the series. The Nationals had knocked the Maroons out of the playoffs in 4 of the last eight seasons. After losing a whopping 8-2 in Game 1, the Maroons came back to win 4 in a row and win the series 4-1 in 5 Games.[9] For the first time since 2014, the Maroons appeared in the Western Conference Championship Final against first seed rival Leamington Flyers. After losing Game 1 in Leamington 3-1, the Maroons came back to win 6-1 on home ice in Game 2.[10] Leamington would take Game 3 in overtime, but the Chatham Maroons would come back to win Games 4,5 and 6 to win their first Western Conference Championship in 16 years. The Maroons dedicated their championship to their equipment manager and longtime Maroons staff and volunteer, Randy DeWael who died suddenly following their first round win over Komoka.[11] Chatham faced the Cambridge Redhawks, Champions of the Midwestern Conference and the Golden Horseshoe Conference Champion St Catharines Falcons.

The Maroons are always a competitive team within the GOJHL and teams never take the trip down to the Chatham Memorial Arena for a weekly Sunday night battle lightly knowing that they will have played a strong team within the Conference in the Maroons. The Chatham Memorial Arena is one of the most electric and exciting environments in the entire league for hockey. The Maroons have a loyal and passionate fan base.

Season-by-season results

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
1959-60 30 20 7 3 - 184 110 43 2nd BCJBHL Won League, lost SC SF
1960-61 31 21 10 0 - 189 102 42 2nd BCJBHL Lost semi-final
1961-62 30 23 7 0 - 179 122 46 1st BCJBHL
1962-63 35 23 11 1 - 221 114 47 1st BCJBHL Lost final
1963-64 28 24 4 0 - 179 66 48 1st BCJBHL Won League, lost SC QF
40 31 6 3 - 257 135 65 1st WOJBHL Lost semi-final
1965-66 40 27 13 0 - 211 174 54 2nd WOJBHL Lost semi-final
1966-67 40 23 15 2 - 200 173 48 3rd WOJBHL
52 36 12 4 - 289 193 76 2nd WOJBHL
56 26 29 1 - 235 253 53 3rd WOJAHLLost semi-final
56 43 12 1 - 305 182 87 1st WOJAHLWon League
44 30 9 5 - 254 161 63 1st SOJAHLLost semi-final
56 33 17 6 - 247 215 72 3rd SOJAHLLost semi-final
60 33 19 8 - 292 218 74 2nd SOJAHLWon League, won Buckland Cup
62 35 17 10 - 336 230 80 3rd SOJAHLLost final
60 25 27 8 - 241 246 58 3rd SOJAHLLost semi-final
60 36 18 6 - 333 229 78 2nd SOJAHLLost final
1976-77 40 9 24 7 - 162 236 25 6th WOJHL
1977-78 39 10 26 3 - 169 224 23 6th WOJHL
1978-79 42 15 20 7 - 210 226 37 6th WOJHL
1979-80 42 24 11 7 - 262 163 55 2nd WOJHL
1980-81 42 26 15 1 - 255 176 53 3rd WOJHL Lost final
1981-82 42 14 24 4 - 188 244 32 6th WOJHL
1982-83 42 14 23 5 - 193 222 33 6th WOJHL
1983-84 48 20 27 1 - 198 223 41 7th WOJHL
1984-85 48 14 26 8 - 181 232 36 5th WOJHL
1985-86 42 19 15 8 - 238 209 46 4th WOJHL Lost final
1986-87 42 15 20 7 - 222 264 37 5th WOJHL
1987-88 42 33 5 3 1 282 148 70 1st WOJHL Lost final
1988-89 41 29 9 2 1 290 158 61 2nd WOJHL Lost final
1989-90 39 33 5 1 0 309 141 67 2nd WOJHL Won League
1990-91 48 28 17 1 2 246 202 59 4th WOJHL Won League
1991-92 50 30 15 4 1 248 196 65 2nd WOJHL West Lost final
1992-93 52 21 24 5 2 - - 49 3rd WOJHL West
1993-94 49 28 17 3 1 258 235 60 3rd WOJHL West
1994-95 52 17 33 0 2 206 288 36 4th WOJHL West
1995-96 51 6 41 2 2 134 330 16 5th WOJHL West
1996-97 52 20 23 6 3 223 232 49 4th WOJHL West
1997-98 52 42 7 1 2 335 163 87 1st WOJHL West Won League
1998-99 52 36 12 0 4 254 167 76 2nd WOJHL West Won League, won SC
1999-00 54 47 6 0 1 286 144 95 1st GOHL Won League
2000-01 54 44 7 1 2 279 155 91 1st GOHL Won League
2001-02 54 43 9 0 2 307 163 88 1st WOJHL Lost final
2002-03 48 27 19 0 2 208 166 56 5th WOJHL
2003-04 48 33 12 0 3 232 150 69 2nd WOJHL Won League
2004-05 48 40 6 1 1 210 93 82 1st WOJHL Won League
2005-06 48 32 12 2 2 188 112 68 2nd WOJHL Won League
2006-07 48 26 20 - 2 225 208 54 5th WOJHLLost semi-final
2007-08 48 17 26 - 5 152 202 39 8th GOJHL-W Lost quarter-final
2008-09 52 26 23 - 3 211 224 55 6th GOJHL-WLost quarter-final
2009-10 50 33 15 - 2 199 163 68 3rd GOJHL-W Lost Conf. SF
2010-11 51 22 23 - 6 213 222 50 8th GOJHL-W Lost Conf. QF
2011-12 51 19 27 - 5 178 214 43 9th GOJHL-W DNQ
2012-13 51 34 11 - 6 210 160 74 1st GOJHL-W Lost Conf. Final, 1-4 (London)
2013-14 49 31 15 - 3 249 176 65 3rd GOJHL-W Lost Conf. Final, 1-4 (Leamington)
2014-15 49 34 13 - 2 249 163 70 2nd GOJHL-W Lost Conf Quarter, 2-4 (London)
2015-16 50 32 16 1 1 248 176 66 4th of 9-W
9th of 26-GOJHL
Won Conf Quarter, 4-1 (St.Thomas)
Lost Conf Semifinals 2-4 (Leamington)
2016-17 50 37 12 0 1 251 172 75 2nd of 9-W
6th of 27-GOJHL
Won Conf Quarter, 4-0 (St.Thomas)
Lost Conf Semifinals, 1-4 (London)
2017-18 50 25 22 1 2 202 192 53 6th of 9-W
14th of 26-GOJHL
Won Conf Quarter, 4-3 (Vipers)
Lost Conf Semifinals, 2-4 (London)
2021-22 48 29 12 4 3 202 157 65 5th of 9-W
9th of 25-GOJHL
Won Conf Quarter, 4-1 (Kings)
Won Conf. Semis 4-1 (London)
Won Conf Finals 4-2 (Leamington)
Round Robin /2-2 (Redhawks
(Falcons}
Lost League Finals, 0-2 (Falcons} |- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff"|2022-23 ||50 ||25 ||21 ||2 ||2 ||191 ||194 ||54 ||3rd of 9-W
14th of 25-GOJHL
||Lost Conf Quarter, 1-4 (Vipers)|- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeff"|2023-24 ||50 ||27 ||20 ||2 ||1 ||195 ||174 ||57 ||5th of 8-W
13th of 23-GOJHL
||Lost Conf Quarter, 2-4 (Vipers)|}

2021 - 2022 Executives, Coaching and Support Staff

Playoffs

St. Thomas Barons defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-2

Chatham Maroons defeated St. Thomas Barons 4-games-to-none

Chatham Maroons defeated Brantford Foresters 5-games-to-2 WOJAHL CHAMPIONS

Guelph CMC's defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-1 with 1 tie

Chatham Maroons defeated Windsor Spitfires 4-games-to-1

Detroit Jr. Red Wings defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-3

Chatham Maroons defeated Welland Sabres 4-games-to-2 with 1 tie

Chatham Maroons defeated Guelph CMC's 4-games-to-3 with 1 tie SOJHL CHAMPIONS

Chatham Maroons defeated Wexford Raiders (OPJHL) 4-games-to-3 BUCKLAND CUP CHAMPIONS

Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-3

Chatham Maroons defeated Guelph CMC's 4-games-to-none with 1 tie

Chatham Maroons defeated Welland Sabres 4-games-to-2

Windsor Spitfires defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-1

Chatham Maroons defeated Niagara Falls Flyers 4-games-to-1 with 1 tie

Guelph CMC's defeated Chatham Maroons 3-games-to-2 with 2 ties

Chatham Maroons defeated Hamilton Mountain A's 4-games-to-3

Guelph Platers defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-none

Sutherland Cup Appearances

1999: Chatham Maroons defeated Stratford Cullitons 4-games-to-3

2005: Thorold Blackhawks defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-1

2022: St Catharines Falcons defeated Chatham Maroons 2-games-to-0

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BlackburnNews.com - Arsenault and Ferguson Dealt to Chatham . 2014-04-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407064836/http://blackburnnews.com/sarnia/sarnia-news/2013/10/21/arsenault-and-ferguson-dealt-to-chatham/ . 2014-04-07 .
  2. Web site: Maroons get new goalie | Chatham Daily News . 2014-04-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407084441/http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2013/11/30/maroons-mum-on-goaltending-situation . 2014-04-07 . dead .
  3. Web site: Essex 73′s three-peat for Great Lakes title | Essex . 2014-04-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407081133/http://sxfreepress.com/?p=9405 . 2014-04-07 . dead .
  4. Web site: Pirates maroon leading scorer | St. Catharines Standard . 2014-04-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407075627/http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2014/01/10/port-colborne-deals-charlie-izaguirre-to-chatham . 2014-04-07 . dead .
  5. Web site: OHA Comes Down Hard on Maroons. 28 January 2014.
  6. Web site: Chatham Maroons Appeal to the OHA and Protested Games | Ontario Hockey Association.
  7. Web site: Heartbreak for Maroons | Chatham Daily News . 2014-04-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407084445/http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2014/04/04/maroons-season-ends-with-game-5-loss . 2014-04-07 . dead .
  8. Web site: Maroons' youth on display in series win over Kings . 2022-05-21 . chathamdailynews . en-CA.
  9. Web site: Jr. B hockey: Chatham Maroons eliminate London Nationals from playoffs . 2022-05-21 . chathamdailynews.ca . en-CA.
  10. Web site: Chatham Maroons . 2022-05-21 . www.chathammaroons.com.
  11. Web site: Maroons win GOJHL Western Conference championship . 2022-05-21 . chathamdailynews . en-CA.