Maroons Win League Awards

Four Chatham Maroons players, Braden Henderson, Steven Beenackers, Kevin Gursoy, and Austin Thompson were honoured Monday night at the GOJHL Western Conference award banquet.

Beenackers, the Maroons captain, was named the league’s best defensive forward, winning the Kevin McIntosh Award. Beenackers, one of six graduating Maroons had 19 goals and 40 points in 32 games this season. The 6’3″ Muirkirk product is finishing his fifth Junior B season.

Braden Henderson was named the CIMCO Refrigeration Most Outstanding 1st Year Defenceman. A product of the Barrie Colts ‘AAA’ system, Henderson scored 39 points in 39 games this season from the Maroons’ blueline. The 2000 born underage defenseman also skated in 6 OHL games with the Sarnia Sting, who drafted him in the 6th round last spring. Henderson was also named to the GOJHL Western Conference All-Rookie team.

Joining Henderson on the All-Rookie team was Maroons forward Kevin Gursoy. Gursoy won the Southland Insurance Award, as the league’s Top Rookie Scorer. In 50 games, Gursoy netted 30 goals and 52 points. The LaSalle product joined the Maroons from the Windsor Jr. Spitfires ‘AAA’ program this year.

Finally, Maroons veteran Austin Thompson was named a GOJHL Western Conference First Team All-Star. The Leamington native scored 38 goals, and 75 points for Chatham in 43 games. He, along with Beenackers, will graduate from the Maroons following the playoffs this year.