No OHL This Year, But Interest Still Exists In Chatham-Kent

The OHL in Chatham-Kent is starting to become the equivalent of Loch Ness Monster…always just under the surface, many false reportings, and never quite emerging.

That isn’t to say there hasn’t been interest. From the Brampton move, to Erie rumours, Sarnia’s sale, and most recently, a report that the Plymouth Whalers were in town this year.

But is Chatham-Kent ready? The next dressing room and team facilities on Memorial Arena are a step in the right direction, but most everything else in the ever again arena would need an overhaul. As a temporary home though, say for a season, two at most, it could work…if Chatham-Kent council could build a new OHL size arena.

Since the demolition of the Navastar plant, chatter around Chatham have focused on the near perfection of that location for a new NHL arena, but, and this is a big one, the environmental cleanup of the location could cost tens of millions, and it’s undecided who would be responsible for that cost.

Other locations obviously exist, primarily along Bloomfield, or perhaps on the North end along St. Clair, which would bridge the said arena to Wallaceburg.

Considering Chatham-Kent just graduated 3 players from the OHL directly to the pros (Seth Griffith, Dane Fox, Kyle Hope), has had 10 OHL picks in the last two years, and will likely have a handful of players (Travis Konecny, Joseph Raaymakers, Brendan Johnston, Brady Pataki, Trent Fox, James McEwan) in the league this year, the talent pool is now here, but is the fan and business pool as deep?

For now though, all speculation aside, we want to know what you think. Comment below, and vote on our poll. Can Chatham-Kent support an OHL franchise?