Maroons open regular season this weekend
The Chatham Maroons will kick off their regular season with a pair of games this weekend.
They are on the road to London on Saturday afternoon, and host the Komoka Kings at Chatham Memorial Arena on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Komoka is expected to have four Chatham-Kent hockey products on their opening night roster. Forwards Camden Arnold, from Chatham, Tilbury’s Paxton Mather and Bleheim’s Morgan Paine.
Tilbury goalie Owen Bienstman is also on Komoka’s roster.
Komoka is coached by Brett Hope, who played for the Maroons for three years. He was an assistant coach with the Maroons for two years, and head coach of the PJCHL’s Blenheim Blades for two years.
Here’s a breakdown of the Maroons opening night roster. Note, although the Maroons have signed a number of players, the roster is always in flux, so expect the roster to look a bit different after Christmas.
On paper, the Maroons are strong on their forward lines.
Players with Junior B experience include; Dylan Richter, Aidan Edwards, Santiago Jimenes, Xandre Aitken, Eddie Hickson and Parker Nyitray. Those six should give the Maroons a lot of options in creating a dynamite offensive line and a shut-down defensive forward line.
Richter is one of the top offensive talents in the GOHL, and Hickson has been a point-a-game player in his two seasons in the GOHL.
Aidan Edwards is a veteran power forward. As a rookie two years ago, Parker Nyitray was always on the ice late in the game when the Maroons were nursing a one-goal lead, as he will be counted to take key faceoffs and play key minutes for the Maroons.
Xandre Aitken was arguably the Maroons best player last year in the playoffs, along with Santiago Jimenes. Not only do they both bring high energy, but they also will chip in with key goals.
The Maroons have signed a number of rookie forwards, including, Hayden Boileau, Mason Vieau, Grady Dale, Wyatt Ferguson, Andrew Baker and Jacob Curic. Baker, a Woodslee native, was a top rookie last year with the PJCHL’s Essex 73s.
Curic is Saginaw Spirit draft pick in this past spring’s OHL draft.
On defence, the Maroons are young. The only players with junior experience is Boris Genov and Chatham’s Michael Robertson. Genov was a rookie with the Maroons last year and Robertson played for the Navan Grads of the CCHL last season.
Rookies on the defence include: Matteo Mosca, Eric Wood, Logan McAulay, Damon Stodola and Tilbury’s Emmett Mather.
The Maroons look to have a talented tandem in net. After a year playing net for the OJHL’s Leamington Flyers, Gannon Hunter has returned. Hunter helped carry the Maroons in a Sutherland Cup title in the spring of 2025.
Egor Sokolov is the other Maroons goalie. The Thornhill resident was a third round draft pick of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. Saginaw sent him to Chatham to develop and prepare to be the future goalie in Saginaw.
For Sunday’s home opener against Komoka tickets will be reduced to $5 for everyone bringing a non-perishable food item or making a $5 cash donation to Chatham Outreach for Hunger.
Fans who don’t make a food or cash donation pay the regular prices of $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (65 years and older) and $10 for youth (seven to 12 years old). Children six and under get in free.