Ken Houston On OHL: “Chatham-Kent Dropped The Ball 3 Times”
Photo by Helen Heath/ Chatham Maroons
Since the 90’s we’ve been teased with the thought of having an OHL team in Chatham-Kent. Ken Houston, former NHLer and one of the people who helped spear head the OHL talks in the 90’s and the 2013 Erie Otter talks, recently sat down with 99.1 CKXS and C-K Sports Talk to shed some light on the subject.
“Chatham-Kent dropped the ball three times,” says Houston, “I had three meetings with Dale Hunter [Owner of The London Knights] at the Wheels. He had it all mapped out.”
The Hunters purchased the London Knights in 2000 and wanted to move the London Knights to Chatham. The planned involved renovating Memorial Arena as their temporary home while a new arena was being built.
Ken Houston also spoke about his meetings with the Erie Otters, The Mayor, and Connor McDavid’s father about the possibility of the Otters relocating, “Connor McDavid’s dad, the Erie Otters, and I all had a meeting at the mayor’s office about bringing the Otters to Chatham-Kent.”
His frustration was evident after years of hope and hard work, “I know it’s all political but Chatham doesn’t deserve it,” said Houston. “Chatham is a fickle town. They support winners but they won’ stick behind a team that has to grow and grow to win. I don’t think they deserve it.
Chatham-Kent has had three opportunities in, including the initial proposal from Mark and Dale Hunter, to bring an OHL franchise to the municipality.
Join 99.1 CKXS, TVCogeco and CKSN.ca Monday nights for C-K Sports Talk, heard live on 99.1 at 6:10 pm.
What.
I’m sure the reason we can’t get an OHL team is because “we’re fickle”. Is this guy for real? It’s because we’re broke and can’t afford to put the money up for an arena (which we shouldn’t, even if we did). We’re also not even close to being an attractive investment for an owner, that would put that money up.
Haha, “fickle”, is he talking about the Maroon’s cup wins last decade when he feels we have success? I’m so confused…
I was involved with Chatham Wheels when the Colonial Hockey League team was here Playing at Memorial Arena
I agree Chatham does not deserve and could never support OHL hockey they couldn’t support pro hockey that was at an elite level we drew 300 fans on a good night with a winning team it was embarrassing and most CHL teams laughed when they played here in a building with no heat and for a team with next to no community sponsorship because the community could care less.