Chatham Maroons Commit to Three Players for 2011-12 Season

From the camp, Chatham made verbal committments to forwards Michael Verboom and Eric Palazzolo, as well as goaltender Hunter Johnson.

Although none are Chatham-Kent residents, two of the hockey players, all born in 1994, played Major Midget ‘AAA’ hockey last season for the Chatham-Kent Cyclones. Verboom, who played 11 regular season games for the Chatham Maroons last season, and 5 playoff games, also led the Alliance ‘AAA’ league in scoring last season with 21 goals and 37 assists in 35 games.

On his heels as a member of the Windsor Jr. Spitfires ‘AAA’ team, Eric Palazollo finished the season tied for 4th in Alliance scoring with 16 goals and 26 assists in 35 games. The committments are a steal for Chatham as the two players were the only representation in the top 5 scoring race south of Waterloo and Cambridge.

Verboom, who is a draft pick of the London Knights, will be joined by his Chatham-Kent Cyclones teammate Hunter Johnson on the Maroons roster next season. Johnson, an Erie Otters selection, also saw spot duty in a backup role for the Maroons last season, including an appearance in Chatham’s first round playoff series against Strathroy.

The goaltender was a key to the Major Midget Chatham-Kent Cyclones successes this season as he routinely faced upwards of 40 shots against.

With these committments in place, the Chatham Maroons will have only a few spots to fill when their main training camp rolls around in August.