Dede Cato Signs With The Chatham Maroons
Dede Cato (blue) with the Toronto Patriots, takes a hit from an Oakville Blades skater early this season – Photo by Andy Corneau / OJHL Images
“The Maroons are very pleased to have Dede on the team and he will play this Saturday in Lambton Shores,” said Maroons assistant general manager Bill Cumming.
Cato, who was the Dresden Jr. Kings rookie of the year last season, signed with the OJHL’s Toronto Patriots in the offseason, but left the Junior A club early in the season for personal reasons.
“I’m excited to play for such an amazing organization from its staff to all the players,” said Cato about signing with the Maroons. “I’m happy they were able to take me in and can’t wait to help contribute to our overall goal and that is to win the Sutherland Cup.”
With the Kings last season, Cato, a smooth skating defenseman, who also plays forward, scored 10 goals and 19 assists in 40 games as a rookie. This season, Cato played 3 games with the Toronto Patriots, registering an assist before leaving the team.
In the offseason, Cato attended the mini-camps for both the North Bay Battalion and Kitchener Rangers, being invited to main camp for both OHL teams. He attended the Rangers’ camp, but was subsequently released.
To get down to their 23-man roster with the signing of Cato, the Maroons were forced to release Teddy McGeen.
“Teddy McGeen was released by the Chatham Maroons,” said Cumming. “We have to maintain a 23 man roster and when Dede returned to Chatham from the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots we needed to make room on our roster. Teddy McGeen is a very classy young man. He handled himself with confidence and did everything we asked of him. We wish him the best.”
Chatham takes on the Lambton Shores Predators Saturday.