Cyclones Major Midget Team Folds Leaving Local Players Scrambling

One of Chatham-Kent’s key developmental hockey teams has folded for the 2011-2012 season after not being able to secure a coach. The Chatham-Kent Major Midget ‘AAA’ Cyclones will not have a team this coming season.

According to a brief statement on the Chatham-Kent Cyclones website, officials said, “The Cyclones Board voted to suspend play for the Major Midgets team for the 2011-2012 season. The Cyclones intend to ice a team next season.”

The move leaves last year’s Minor Midget ‘AAA’ players scrambling for the last few underage positions with local Junior hockey teams, or heading back to their home centres instead of suiting up for what has been one of the areas top developmental programs in past seasons.

Nearly all of last year’s team have moved on to Junior B and Junior C hockey, with several players getting opportunities at OHL camps. From last season’s roster, Nate Pietens, Michael Verboom, Hunter Johnson, and Trevor Richardson will suit up for the Chatham Jr. B Maroons this season. Cody Trowell and Bryan Boersma will play for the Lambton Shores Jr. B Predators, while Cody Wuytenburg made the Strathroy Jr.B Rockets, and Joshua Gordon is playing college hockey for Trinity Western University.