Major Novice Chatham Maroons Win OMHA Championship!
2011 Chatham Maroons Major Novice 'AA' OMHA Champions - Photo by Ian Kennedy
Chatham, ON – For the first time in nearly a decade, Chatham has an Ontario Championship hockey team. The Major Novice ‘AA’ Chatham Maroons defeated the Grimsby Peach Kings 3 games to 0 for the OMHA title, including a decisive 5-1 win Saturday night at Thames Campus Arena.
“The kids earned this. They played their butts off all year and didn’t forget what counts most, playing as a team,” said Head Coach Rocky Gaudrault in a post game interview.
After falling behind 1-0 early in the game, Chatham rebounded in a big way. Adrian Stubberfield scored the first goal of the game for the Chatham Maroons and added another late in the game to put Chatham ahead 4-1.
- Chatham Maroons Celebrate OMHA Title – Photo by Ian Kennedy
Other Chatham goal scorers were Brendan Mairs, Craig Spence, and Jared Delaey. Matt Gaudrault and Dakota VanGoethem both had two assists, while Mairs, Cal Polowick, Luke Havens, and Spence had single Helpers.
Aiden Lucyk and Jessie McPherson split the goaltending duties and both played an exceptional game.
“We don’t have one superstar on this team,” said Coach Gaudrault, “we have many exceptional players.”
“We have a group of parents that dedicated a lot of time, which allowed the team to develop, and it shows in the kids,” said Gaudrault.
Through the year, the Major Novice Chatham Maroons won three of the four tournaments they entered and over their roughly 60 games in total, lost under 10. This incredible number included 11-straight wins in the OMHA playdowns on their way to capturing the ultimate prize in minor hockey, and Ontario Minor Hockey Association Championship.
Continue to follow the Chatham-Kent Sports Network for a photo gallery of the Championship game.
Congrats guys. It was a great game to watch and we are all very proud of you.
These boys deserve this so much as they have worked very hard this year!!! They work well as a team and all learned to play as one.
The coaching staff of Rocky, Scott,Brendon, Nate–congrats to you all as you brought this team to this destination.
I want to thank all of the coaches, kids, parents and all of the helpers at practices because without all of us being one this would not be able to be accompolished.
This is family and proud and honoured to have them!!!!
Dakota VanGoetehm #24 grandmother
Way to go boy’s! We’re all so proud of you….but now it’s back to school for you 😉
Congratulations boys for the job well done! Especially to Luke Havens, so proud of you.
From your mommy in Kingsvlle