Tyler Roeszler, A Chatham-Kent Athlete Who Came baCK
Chatham-Kent sends athletes across Ontario, Canada, and the globe each year to compete athletically. Sponsored by baCK to Chatham-Kent, we’ll be featuring local athletes who have left Chatham-Kent, and are now baCK, living, working, and staying connected to our own vibrant sports community in CK.
This week, we feature Chatham’s Tyler Roeszler. A former NCAA and professional hockey player, Tyler Roeszler has been coaching and living in Chatham-Kent following his playing career. He has coached at the OHL and OUA level, and is currently serving as the head coach and general manager of the Chatham Maroons.
Here are Tyler’s responses to our baCK to Chatham-Kent athletes interview:
1. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Chatham, right around the corner from Thames Campus arena (I doubt my dad chose that by accident). I played all sports growing up, but hockey was always my greatest passion. My brothers and I were very fortunate to have parents that directed us to follow our passion.
2. What is your favourite Chatham-Kent pastime?
I remember going to Chatham Maroons games when I was younger and watching them win four championships in a row in the late 90s/early 2000s. Being able to grow up and watch local players have that kind of success and move on to NCAA opportunities was a great experience. The way the people of Chatham support their hockey team is unlike any other city I’ve seen.
3. What did you do after high school?
I spent three years playing for the Chatham Maroons, then I was fortunate enough to play four years at Cornell University in New York (NCAA). After graduating with biology and business, I signed a professional hockey contract in Sweden. I started coaching right after my playing career, spending a year with the Chatham-Kent Cyclones AAA organization, spent three years coaching the Chatham Maroons, two years at the University of Guelph, one year with the Windsor Spitfires (OHL), and now I am back as the Head Coach/General Manager of the Chatham Maroons.
4. What are you doing now?
I am currently coaching the Chatham Maroons and I work for a pharmaceutical company full-time. My wife Nicole and I just had our first child, Kinsley, who is almost 2 years old now. She is the absolute best part of our day! We have lived in Chatham ever since I retired from playing professionally, about 6 years ago. We recently built a house in the country between Chatham and Blenheim, so I guess you could say we are county folks now!
5. What has made you happiest, or been the best surprise about moving baCK to Chatham-Kent?
When I went away to school, I figured I would just live where I was playing hockey. Once I retired, I had been away for 5 years straight. When I returned to Chatham, I couldn’t believe how great it felt to be back around family and friends.
6. What would you tell someone who is considering living in Chatham-Kent?
I would tell them they are coming to a city with a great deal of pride. This is a great community to raise a family. Our education system is phenomenal and there are plenty of sports and activities for people of all ages to get involved in. This is a great sports town. We have seen great athletes go on and do great things in all sports. There seems to be events happening in the city regularly for people to take part in.
7. Why did you choose to move baCK to Chatham-Kent?
We chose to move back to Chatham-Kent because this is where we’re from. This is the city that we were fortunate to grow up in and we wanted that for our kids, as well. Both my family and Nicole’s family are all from here, so it was important that our children could grow up having close relationships with their cousins, aunts/uncles, and grandparents.