Maroons Rally Past Stars in Playoff Opener

Sports Hockey Local Sports

All four lines found the net for the Chatham Maroons during a thrilling 6-4 comeback victory against the St. Thomas Stars on Sunday.

Mar 16, 2026  • 

Chatham Maroons’ Trevor Zanutto and St. Thomas Stars’ Eloan Le Gallic compete for possession at Chatham Memorial Arena in Chatham Sunday. (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)

Xandre Aitken spent much of last season’s Sutherland Cup journey as a spectator.

This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

As an affiliate player, he was present at every practice but only saw action in two playoff games in the Greater Ontario Hockey League.

This time around, he’s a rookie forward eager to contribute to another Cup win for the Maroons.

“Watching it was pretty exciting, so getting to play it is incredible,” said the Grande Pointe native.

Aitken scored a goal and added an assist on Sunday during a dramatic 6-4 comeback win over the St. Thomas Stars in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final before 1,005 fans at Chatham Memorial Arena.

The Stars were looking to tie things up when Aitken netted an insurance goal with just 1:46 remaining in the third period.

“It felt great,” he said about his first GOHL playoff goal. “I think I had that celly lined up and ready to go in my head.

“I knew it was going to be electric in there. Once I saw it hit the back of the net, I was fired up.”

The top-seeded Maroons sensed an opportunity after that goal. They kept the Stars pinned down in their own zone for the remainder of the match and didn’t allow goalie Dylan Durno any chance to leave for an extra skater.

This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<//span>

<//span>

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday in St. Thomas, with Game 3 set for Thursday at Chatham at 7 p. m., followed by Game 4 on Friday back in St. Thomas.<//span>

The Maroons overcame an early deficit of 2-0 with contributions from all four lines throughout the opener.<//span>

“After we scored one, I think we all believed we were going to come back and obviously we did,” stated Aidan Edwards, who also contributed with a goal and an assist. “We outplayed them pretty much all game except for that five-minute stretch. It all starts with that first one.”<//span>

Maroons captain Dylan Richter returned from injury after missing eleven games this season./However ,the Maroonssufferedanother setbackwithforward Carter Chadwick leavingtheiceinthirdperioddue toaupper-bodyinjuryafterahardcheckintotheboards.

“Itwasgoodtohave Dylanback,”Aitkensaid.”Ithinkhewasexcitedandreadytogo. Butthenlosing Chaddy, Ihopeit’snottooserious. Iwishhimaspeedyrecovery.”</The depthof Maroonsallowedthemtoovercometheabsenceof Richter. Thiswillbeputtotestagainif32-goalscorer Chadwickisoutforalongtime.
Thishasnotloadedyet, butyourarticlecontinuesbelow.

“Itdoeshaveadepth,”Edwardssaid.”It’sanextguyupmentality. We’vegotthreeforwardssittinginthatroom, sittinginthestands, whoreadyto go if Chaddycan’tmakeitback.” They’llalso needtoreplacero OKIEforward Matt Crawfordifhe’ssuspendedforagameortwo. Hewaspenalizedasthe aggressorforafightwith Joey Buzzettarightafter Chadwickwashurt. “Itwaspretty nails,”Aitkensaidabout Crawford.”Iplayedagainst himinthe PJ(Provincial Junior Hockey League). I’veseenhowheplaysandit’stheperfectfourth-liner. It’sexactlywhatweneedtosee. “Playwiththatgrit , playthe wholeserieslike thatandweshouldbedoingprettywell.” Ian Lachance sparkedthe Maroons’comeback, Ewan Mc Chesneyalsofoundthenetinthefirstperiodtiedat2-2attheintermission. Edwardsputthem aheadforthewin, Santiago Jimenesaddedalategoalinthesecondperiodforatotalof4-2lead. Boris Genovalsofoundthe netinthethird. The Starsdrewwithinagoaltwicebutcouldn’tgeteven. Thishasnotloadedyet, butyourarticlecontinuesbelow. Sammy Di Blasimade29savesduringthe Maroons’12thstraightwin. “Thelastmonth, we’vereallygrowntogetherasateam,”Edwardssa ID.”Weallbelieveineachotherandwe doourparts. Weallhave rolesonthishockeyteam.” “Everyonebelievesthatwe do havetheteamtodo this. Wemustrelyoneachotherandeverythingwillgothewayit’ssupposedtog O.” Wyatt Cameronnettedtwogoalsfortheeighth-seeded Stars, and George Matsosande Loan Le Gallichaddoubles. AND DURNOMADE34SAVES. NOTES: No Maroonsmade Western Conferenceall-rookieteam. Starsforward Le Gallicand Myles Dunnwerejoinedby Strathroy Rocketsforward Jake Ritson , defencemen Lucas Nuttingofthe Elmira Sugar Kingsand Cooper Mc Aslanofthe London Nationals, and St. Marys Lincolns goalie Vaughn Barr.. Crawfordhadtwoassists.. The Maroons’crowd wastheirsecondbiggestoftheseason. They d REW1471againstthe Lincolnson Sept21.. The Maroonswere1for4onthepowerplay. The Starswere0for1
mmaloneChatham Maroons’ Santiago Jimenes celebrates a third-period goal by Xandre Aitken in Sunday’s 6-4 win over the St. Thomas Stars at Chatham Memorial Arena.(Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)Sharethisarticleinyoursocialnetwork

Source link