Maroons Eliminated

The Chatham Maroons saw their 2013-2014 season come to an end Thursday on the road in front of more than 2000 fans in Leamington.

For a team who was gifted with some of the GOJHL’s top offensive stars, the Leamington Flyers put an impressive stamp on their five game victory over Chatham, shutting out the high powered Maroons 1-0 in the deciding game.

After two scoreless periods, Mitchell Amante took a feed from Blaine Bechard and put the puck past Maroons goalie Jacob Keogh, who stopped 26 shots in the loss. The goal was enough to lift Leamington to a GOJHL Western Conference title, and a position in the Sutherland Cup.

Had Chatham won the game, they would have been in contention for the Sutherland Cup Wild Card spot, however their 9-4 record wasn’t enough to secure a spot, as they lost a goal differential tie breaker.

This was the second straight season the Chatham Maroons have fallen in the GOJHL Western Conference final after they were eliminated by the London Nationals last season.

The loss also marks the end of the Junior B careers of several Chatham Maroons including Adam Arseneault, Jacob Keogh, Kyle Brothers, Tanner Ferguson, and Charlie Izaguirre.

Leamington will now join the champions of the other two GOJHL leagues, as well as a wild card team, to play for the Sutherland Cup.