Local Talent On Display At Sunday’s ‘Ridgetown Showdown’

When USport hockey rolls into Ridgetown Sunday for the first ever Ridgetown Showdown between the University of Guelph Gryphons and the University of Windsor Lancers men’s hockey teams, there will be plenty of local talent on display.

For the Guelph Gryphons, recent commit Matt Kenney is likely to be in action. Kenney, a former Maroons forward spent several years playing minor hockey in Chatham as a youth before his family moved. He played Junior A last season for the OJHL’s Burlington Cougars.

The University of Windsor features several players with local ties, including Tilbury’s Blake Blondeel, who will serve as captain of the Lancers this year. Blondeel, a former Chatham Maroons star, has played four seasons with the Lancers.

He’s joined by Blenheim’s Kyle Hope, who spent five seasons in the OHL, and had a stint in the AHL prior to joining the Lancers. He’s serving as an assistant captain for the Lancers.

Also playing for Windsor are former Chatham Maroons Eric Palazzolo and Brennan Feasey, and Chatham-Kent Cyclones alumni Kody Gagnon.

Puck drop for the game is 6:30pm at East Kent Arena in Ridgetown on Sunday. Admission is free.