Junior Hockey Roundup

The Chatham Maroons fell short in their bid for an unbeaten preseason, bowing 3-1 to the LaSalle Vipers last night at the Memorial Arena in Chatham.

The Wheatley Sharks fell to the Blenheim Blades – Photo by Kelsey Vermeersch/ CKSN.ca

Justin Badour had the lone goal for the Maroons.

“The pre-season as a whole was good for our team,” Head Coach Kyle Makaric said in a statement. “We have a lot of new ideas and different things structurally that take time and for the most part it has gone well. Tonight the effort and execution wasn’t what we need to be successful at this level. We will get back to work with two important practices this week before the home opener this Sunday against Strathroy.”

Chatham ended the exhibition schedule with a record of 5-1-1.

The Maroons open the regular season at home next Sunday against the Strathroy Rockets.

Among other GOJHL exhibition games last night, Dresden’s Trent McGrail made 34 saves but his Komoka Kings lost 5-3 to St. Marys.

Meantime in PJHL action, Dresden closed out its exhibition schedule with a 3-1 win against the Flags in Mooretown Saturday night. Noah Fox, Bayly Fryfogle and Eli Duquette scored the Jr. Kings.

Dresden’s season opener is Wednesday in Wheatley.

Elsewhere in preseason action last night, Blenheim beat Wheatley, 3-2.

The Blades open the regular season against the Lakers in Wallaceburg on Wednesday.