Familiar names working for OHL teams

If you look behind the scenes at various Ontario Hockey League teams, a number of coaches got their start in Chatham-Kent.

As OHL teams fill out their coaching rosters, there are a number of familiar names to local hockey fans.

Kyle Makaric

Former Chatham Maroons head coach Kyle Makaric joined the Erie Otters’ coaching staff recently as an assistant coach.

Makaric coached the Maroons for two seasons, from 2018-2020. He played three seasons in Chatham, from 2007-2010.

The 37-year-old native of LaSalle, comes to Erie following last season where he was an assistant coach with the Saginaw Spirit.

Makaric brings an extensive list of experience with him, including two CCHL Championships as head coach of the Ottawa Jr. Senators, including being named the Coach of the Year in the league in 2023.

Other stops along the way for the Otters’ new assistant include four years with the Windsor Jr. Spitfires AAA Program, multiple stints with the University of Windsor, the Chatham Maroons, and Leamington Flyers. He also coached with Canada East at the World Junior ‘A’ Championship and with BioSteel Sports Academy.

Joseph Raaymakers

Raaymakers has spent the past two seasons as the Chatham Maroons goaltending coach. The Chatham native is joining the Sarnia Sting as an assistant goalie coach.

A local coach with Future Pro Goalie Academy and an educator, Raaymakers will work closely with Sting goaltending coach Rob Beatty to continue advancing the club’s goaltending program.

“Joe is a young and dedicated local goalie coach who combines his expertise with Future Pro Goalie Academy and his background as an educator,” said Sting general manager Dylan Seca. “We believe the tandem of Rob Beatty and Joe will make our goalie development program one of the best in the league.”

Raaymakers played five years in the OHL with the London Knights and the Soo Greyhounds. He then played on the east coach with the St. Francis Xavier University.

He is expected to play his third season of senior hockey with the Alvinston Killer Bees this upcoming season. Raaymakers is still listed as the Maroons goaltending coach for this upcoming season on the Maroons’ website. Raaymakers is so far the leader for the CKSN 2026 Busiest Sports Person Award.

Jordan Hill

The Sting are bringing back alumnus Jordan Hill to the coaching staff as a Player Development and Performance Consultant.

Hill will work alongside existing development coach and Vegas Golden Knights Skills Coach Scott Jones to deliver year-round player development and skill planning.

Hill played almost a full season with the Wallaceburg Lakers in 2006-07. after he went undrafted in the OHL draft.

Under the tuteledge of legendary local junior hockey coach Mark Davis, Hill learned the ropes and his hockey career skyrocketed. He made the leap to the Sarnia Sting the next season, and became a cornerstone of their franchise, eventually becoming the team’s captain. He was traded to Saginaw and was an assistant captain there.

After his junior career finished, Hill had a long seven-year minor pro career mostly in the AHL, playeing over 400 pro games.

Hill has coached previously with the Sting and Owen Sound in the OHL.