Have the Maroons found their stride?
On paper the Chatham Maroons look like a top-notch team. Like a car running out of gas it took them the first nine games of the season chugging along, but winning six of their last seven games, the Maroons are like a zippy sports car on the freeway.
With a 10-5-1 record, the Maroons sit in seventh place in the 12 team GOJHL Western Conference. The lead the 23-team GOJHL in scoring with 82 goals. First-place Ayr is in second-place with 71 goals.
With 10 rookies in the lineup everyone knew it would take time for the team to gel. Add in some new players and it was expected that there would be a few bumps to start the season. Just a couple of weeks ago the Maroons had a 4-5 record. After four straight wins, the Maroons improved to 8-5, and then have won a couple more games. More importantly, the Maroons gave a tough St. Mary’s team their first loss a couple weekends ago and beat a good LaSalle team at home on Sunday.
Second, this is a talented team. The team has firepower, although some are young. Liam Campbell, who leds the Maroons in goals with 11 in 13 games, just turned 16 years old.
Last year’s Maroons team had nine players who had double digit goal totals. There’s no reason why this team can’t have 10 guys who can pot at least 10 goals.
A good team can stop one big line, or maybe slow down two lines, but when you face a team with three strong lines, plus a couple of defencemen who like to join the rush—it’s hard to slow them down.
Although the defence has been hit by the injury bug, there is a lot of talent. Every GOJHL team would love a veteran defenceman who can score, run the power play and play key minutes. The Maroons have three defenceman—Blain Bacik, Jaxen Fortier-Smith and Ryan Vannetten, who fit that bill. Ethan Waddick and Josh Harding have played in the league for a couple years and their best hockey is in front of them.
Rookie defenceman Tyler Pais and Cooper Otterman both have good size and move the puck well.
After trying out a few goalies, it seems the Maroons have settled on Samuel DiBlasi and Gannon Hunter as their goaltender tandem.
A Saginaw Spirit draft pick, after three games with the Maroons it appears that DiBlasi is the real deal. If he continues his strong play with the Maroons, expect NHL scouts to make appearances at Chatham Memorial Arena in the upcoming months.
Gannon Hunter has been solid in the Maroons net. If we had to quibble about the Maroons goaltending situation, it’s the fact that both goalies are only 17 years-old, and goalies take a bit of time to develop compared to forwards and defencemen. However, if both goalies continue to perform as veterans down the stretch, it will benefit the Maroons.
The Maroons play at home the next two Sundays (Nov, 10 and Nov. 17), with both games against Stratford.