Para hockey team has Chatham ties behind the bench

Team Canada’s Para Hockey team has some Chatham connections behind their bench.

Canada began with a 4-1 win over China in Sunday’s round-robin opener at the Para Hockey Cup in Quispamsis, N.B.

On Monday night Canada beat Czechia 3-0.

Guest coach Tara Chisholm, became the first woman to work the bench with Canada’s National Para Hockey Team in the opening game. Chisholm is married to Chatham’s Derek Whitson, who was a member of Canada’s bronze medal-winning team at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Assistant coach/goalie coach Mike Fountain played for the Chatham MicMacs during the 1989-1990 season.

Fountain went on to play with the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and later was an NHL draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks. He played 11 games in the NHL.

Two other Mic Mac players on the 89-90 team also had NHL careers—Brian Wiseman and Todd Warriner.