Beenackers Haunts Maroons In Return

Muirkirk’s Steven Beenackers, who grew up playing ‘AAA’ hockey in Chatham’s Memorial Arena, and started his Junior career last season with the Chatham Maroons, had the game of his life Sunday night in Chatham, however; unfortunately for the Chatham Maroons, it was in a Lambton Shores Predators jersey.

After being traded by the Chatham Maroons earlier this year in exchange for sniper Kyle Brothers, Beenackers has taken on a new role with Lambton Shores, playing more minutes, and Sunday showed his offensive abilities scoring the game winning goal, and adding three assists in a 5-4 Lambton Shores win over Chatham.

In the first period of Sunday’s game, Trevor Richardson and Lambton Shores’ John Warren traded goals, with each player scoring twice. Beenackers assisted on both of Warren’s first period goals.

Matt Ross opened the scoring in the second for the Predators with Beenackers assisting, before Mark Fratarcangelli tied it up for Chatham.

Heading to the third period tied 3-3, Nick Spoveiro struck first for Lambton Shores, but Brayden Hopkins tied things up making it 4-4. Then, with 12-minutes remaining, Beenackers scored his first of the season, the game winning goal, and a dagger in his former team.

The loss was Chatham’s fourth straight. The Maroons next play St. Thomas Friday, September 27.

Beenackers is one of five Chatham-Kent players on the Lambton Shores Predators, who also feature Ridgetown’s Bryan Boersma, Thamesville’s Dillon Liberty, Chatham’s Jay Ritchie, Morpeth’s Jim McKinlay, and Wheatley’s Ty Jackson.