Maroons Swap Marlatt For Beenackers

Two Chatham-Kent hockey products were on the move this weekend as the Chatham Maroons sent the rights to Drew Marlatt to the Lambton Shores Predators, in return for Steven Beenackers and a underage card.

As an OHL draft pick of the Windsor Spitfires, and the reigning Great Lakes Junior C rookie of the year, Chatham’s Drew Marlatt was a coveted prospect by many teams. Beenackers, who played for the Maroons two seaons ago before being traded last season to Lambton Shores, was the Predators’ leading scorer last season, and played in the GOJHL Top Prospects Game. Although another player was rumoured to be involved in this deal heading to Lambton Shores, no details were confirmed immediately by the teams.

“Steven Beenackers is back as a Maroon,” Chatham Maroons assistant general manager Bill Cumming told CKSN. “It should be a good fit for Drew as he will get plenty of ice time with the Predators. Preds coach Don Dickson is a Windsor Spitfire scout and Drew was one if their draft picks.”

“The Maroons wish Drew the best of luck in his first year of Junior B,” continued Cumming.

Last season with the Blenheim Blades, Marlatt scored 21-goals and added 18-assists for 39-points in 36 games played. He was also the Great Lakes October Player of the Month. Beenackers, with Lambton Shores, scored 12 goals and added 31 assists for 43 points in 41 games. He had 11 points in 47 games as a rookie with Chatham in 2012-2013.

Marlatt had been attending the Windsor Spitfires camp this week, who drafted him in 2013, but was released following the Spitfires’ annual Blue-White Game. Fellow Windsor prospect Sean Ross was also recently signed by Lambton Shores. Marlatt made his Predators debut Saturday in a 4-3 exhibition win over St. Marys.

The Predators and Maroons have had frequent dealings as the teams did multiple trades last season sending Kyle Brothers, Adam Arseneault, and Tanner Ferguson to Chatham in return for Beenackers, Matt Kenney, Jay Ritchie, and cash.

Beenackers is the third big name forward the Maroons have added this offseason, as they also acquired Brennan Feasey and Alex Morgan.

Chatham next takes to the ice Sunday, September 7 for their final preseason game against Sarnia.