Chatham Maroons

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This article is about the junior team. For the defunct senior team, see Chatham Maroons (IHL).
Chatham Maroons
CityChatham, Ontario, Canada
LeagueGreater Ontario Junior Hockey League
DivisionWestern
Founded1959
Home arenaChatham Memorial Arena
ColoursMaroon, Brown, and White
     
Owner(s)Bill and Karen Szekesy
General managerRichard Santos
Head coachRichard Santos
AffiliateBlenheim Blades (PJHL)
Websitehttps://www.chathammaroons.com/
Franchise history
1959-1976Chatham Maroons
1976-1978Chatham Maple City Fords
1978-1988Chatham Maroons
1988-1995Chatham MicMac
1995-PresentChatham Maroons
Championships
Conference titles1990, 1991 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2022
Playoff championships1999 Sutherland Cup Champions

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[edit]

Maroons goalie at home 2013-14.
Maroons line up for a draw in 2013 playoffs.


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 the Maroons however 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[edit]

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
1964-65 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
1967-68 52 36 12 4 - 289 193 76 2nd WOJBHL
1968-69 56 26 29 1 - 235 253 53 3rd WOJAHL Lost semi-final
1969-70 56 43 12 1 - 305 182 87 1st WOJAHL Won League
1970-71 44 30 9 5 - 254 161 63 1st SOJAHL Lost semi-final
1971-72 56 33 17 6 - 247 215 72 3rd SOJAHL Lost semi-final
1972-73 60 33 19 8 - 292 218 74 2nd SOJAHL Won League, won Buckland Cup
1973-74 62 35 17 10 - 336 230 80 3rd SOJAHL Lost final
1974-75 60 25 27 8 - 241 246 58 3rd SOJAHL Lost semi-final
1975-76 60 36 18 6 - 333 229 78 2nd SOJAHL Lost 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 WOJHL Lost 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-W Lost 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}
2022-23 50 25 21 2 2 191 194 54 3rd of 9-W
14th of 25-GOJHL 		Lost Conf Quarter, 1-4 (Vipers)
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[edit]

Maroons goalie during the 2013-14 season in Leamington, Ontario.
  • President - Bill Szekesy
  • Vice President - Karen Szekesy
  • Director of Business Development - Andrew Doran
  • Assistant General Manager & Director of Player Development - Kevin Fisher
  • Head coach & General Manager - Tyler Roeszler
  • Assistant coach - Levi Tetrault
  • Assistant coach - Ryan Hope
  • Assistant coach - Kent Hamilton
  • Goaltending Coach - Bino Pereira
  • Equipment Manager - Randy DeWael
  • Equipment Manager - Brayden Jee
  • Team Physician - Dr. Anthony Dixon
  • Team Chiropractor - Dr. Frank Little
  • Team Chiropractor - Dr. Jeff Wieringa

Playoffs[edit]

  • 1969 Lost semi-final
St. Thomas Barons defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-2
  • 1970 Won League
Chatham Maroons defeated St. Thomas Barons 4-games-to-none
Chatham Maroons defeated Brantford Foresters 5-games-to-2 WOJAHL CHAMPIONS
  • 1971 Lost semi-final
Guelph CMC's defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-1 with 1 tie
  • 1972 Lost semi-final
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
  • 1974 Lost final
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
  • 1975 Lost semi-final
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
  • 1976 Lost final
Chatham Maroons defeated Hamilton Mountain A's 4-games-to-3
Guelph Platers defeated Chatham Maroons 4-games-to-none

Sutherland Cup Appearances[edit]

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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "BlackburnNews.com - Arsenault and Ferguson Dealt to Chatham". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  2. ^ "Maroons get new goalie | Chatham Daily News". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  3. ^ "Essex 73′s three-peat for Great Lakes title | Essex". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  4. ^ "Pirates maroon leading scorer | St. Catharines Standard". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  5. ^ "OHA Comes Down Hard on Maroons". 28 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Chatham Maroons Appeal to the OHA and Protested Games | Ontario Hockey Association".
  7. ^ "Heartbreak for Maroons | Chatham Daily News". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  8. ^ "Maroons' youth on display in series win over Kings". chathamdailynews. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  9. ^ "Jr. B hockey: Chatham Maroons eliminate London Nationals from playoffs". chathamdailynews.ca. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  10. ^ "Chatham Maroons". www.chathammaroons.com. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  11. ^ "Maroons win GOJHL Western Conference championship". chathamdailynews. Retrieved 2022-05-21.

External links[edit]

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