GOJHL Named 8th Best Developmental League in North America

If young hockey players are hoping to make it to the NHL, Southwestern Ontario’s GOJHL (Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League), is an excellent place to start according to TheHockeyWriters.com.

The respected hockey website listed the GOJHL, which features the Chatham Maroons, as the 8th best developmental league for preparing players for the NHL, in North America.

Also on the list were professional leagues such as the American Hockey League (#1) and East Coast Hockey League (#2), and amateur leagues including the Canadian Hockey League (#3), NCAA (#4), and United States Hockey League (#5). The Ontario Junior Hockey League was the only other strictly Ontario based loop ahead of the GOJHL, coming in at number 6.

In recent seasons, the Chatham Maroons have seen several players bounce back and forth into the Canadian Hockey League’s OHL, including players such as Patrick Watling, Brennan Feasey, Sam Studnicka, Darien Ekblad, and Alex Morgan.

Also, Blenheim’s Brady Campbell, who played last season for the Elmira Sugar Kings, will be moving up the list as he will suit up for the NCAA’s Maine Black Bears this year.

Although not in its present GOJHL form, current NHLers Ryan Jones and Kevin Westgarth also came from the Chatham Maroons and have moved up to the professional ranks.