Gardiner Coming Home To Win

Nolan Gardiner has been around the block. He’s been a part of five Junior hockey teams in four different leagues over the last four seasons.

Now, the veteran is coming home, back to Chatham-Kent, adding another city to his Junior resume, while trying to win a title in front of friends and family in his final Junior hockey campaign after being acquired by the GOJHL’s Chatham Maroons.

“I’m very excited to finish Junior hockey in my hometown and am really looking forward to playing in front of friends and family,” said Gardiner.

Gardiner, a Chatham-Kent Cyclones alumni started his Junior career as an underager with the Junior C Wheatley Sharks before moving up to play for the GOJHL’s LaSalle Vipers. Following this, he spent two seasons playing Major Junior for the OHL’s Ottawa 67s and QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakker. Last year, he finished the season with the GOJHL’s Caledonia Corvairs.

With a plethora of experience, Gardiner knows what he can bring to the Chatham Maroons.

“I hope to bring offence, grit and leadership to the team,” said the Tilbury product.

Gardiner scored 19 points in 17 regular season games before adding 17 points in 20 playoff games last year after joining Caledonia, while also playing 26 games of OHL and QMJHL action. He was part of a three-player deal to Chatham, with former Caledonia teammates Sean O’Brien and Eddie Schulz also coming to the Maroons.

“We felt Chatham gave the three of us the best opportunity to win,” says Gardiner. “Winning at home in front of friends and family would be very special. Also I heard great things about the coaching staff and the organization.”

With training camp opening in mid-August, Gardiner won’t have that long to wait, and Chatham Maroons fans will have a few new faces to cheer on when the puck drops on the season.