Ewan McChesney: Chatham Maroons’ Rising Star

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Ewan McChesney arrived in Chatham one year ago at the trade deadline ready to play a supporting role.

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Normally a high scorer, the rookie happily served as a depth forward on the Maroons.

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“First year of juniors is always pretty tough, especially coming into such a good team,” said McChesney, 18. “I knew that my role wasn’t going to be the biggest. I just put in the work every day and did whatever I had to do for the boys and didn’t complain.

“Obviously now, I’m in a better role. It’s a lot more fun. I’m excited to have that bigger role.”

After going scoreless in 17 regular-season games in 2024-25, McChesney is now third on the Maroons in goals (15) and points (33) in 33 games.

The five-foot-eight Barrie native arrived at camp eager to replace the veterans who left the Sutherland Cup champions in the off-season.

“When I was younger, I always had that bigger role,” he said. “Sometimes you’ve got to adjust. Now, I’m just getting back to a bigger role. I had a good summer knowing that we’d have a good team here, so I know every day I’ve got to make sure that I keep that role.”

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REBOUND WIN: McChesney, Trevor Zanutto and Aidan Edwards scored in the first period Sunday for a 3-1 win over the Komoka Kings before 625 fans at Chatham Memorial Arena.

Viljami Kukkola made 19 saves as the Maroons (25-6-1-2) regained a three-point lead over the second-place Elmira Sugar Kings in the Greater Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference. The Sugar Kings have four games in hand.

As a fourth-liner last season, McChesney was a checker instead of a scorer. His roles are now reversed, but he hasn’t abandoned his gritty side.

“Even today, I was trying to finish my checks a bit more and get in the dirty areas,” he said. “I think that (last season) helped me become a playmaker, but also a guy who’s first on the forecheck.”

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The Maroons bounced back after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to the Lincolns in St. Marys. It was their third straight loss to the Lincolns in less than a month.

“St. Marys was not our best game,” Maroons defenceman Josh Harding said. “We all know that. We responded well today and played a hard game.

“As a D (defensive) corps, I think we just need to hit more. I think we hit more tonight and I think it showed because we were getting the pucks out of our zone. They weren’t in there for too long.”

Tyson Ackerman spoiled Kukkola’s shutout bid by scoring 6:38 into the third period. Kings goalie Brock Lane of Port Lambton made 38 saves.

McChesney opened the scoring in the first period, then Zanutto and Edwards tallied on power plays. Zanutto leads the GOHL with 25 goals.

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“Sammy DiBlasi had a great game (in net) last night. That helped us,” McChesney said. “And then today Villy Kukkola had another great game. If we just keep letting up one or two (goals), I think we can win most hockey games with our offence.”

LOSS TO LINCS: On Saturday, Aydan Doyle and Max Skinner scored for the Maroons. DiBlasi returned from the injured list to make 37 saves in his first game since Dec. 5.

Skinner scored 2:04 into the third period for a 2-2 tie, but Callum McAuley replied at 4:01 with the winning goal on a power play.

Ethan Weir had the two other goals for the Lincolns, who went 2-for-3 with a man advantage. Brogan Colquhoun made 26 saves.

“They outplayed us,” Harding said. “Plain and simple, they outplayed us. We’ve got to be better, stronger.

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“Our older guys, myself included, we’ve got to step up and show the younger guys (to) play hard, inspire them. They’re just outplaying us.”

The third-place Lincolns are the only team to beat the Maroons in the past six weeks. They took the season series 3-1.

“The first time we played them, we had everyone healthy, … but the last three games we played them, we haven’t been full and they’ve got the better of us,” McChesney said. “But they’re a really good team over there. We’ve just got to come out harder next time we play them.”

NOTES: Maroons rookie Alex Lisi made his Ontario Hockey League debut Saturday with the Owen Sound Attack. The 16-year-old forward is the GOHL December rookie of the month and was a seventh-round pick in the 2025 OHL draft. He rejoined the Maroons Sunday and had two assists, rising to seventh in GOHL rookie scoring with 32 points in 33 games. … The Maroons visit the Listowel Cyclones Friday and host the London Nationals Sunday at 7 p.m. … Ex-Maroon Brody Najim of the Kings scored with 15 seconds left in the third period Saturday to complete his hat trick and beat his hometown Sarnia Legionnaires 7-6. Wallaceburg’s Nash Jacobs scored the Kings’ tying goal.

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