Maroons assist minor hockey team

above: Chatham Maroons’ Evan Krell, right, talks with Samuel Burgess. (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)

The Kent U11 Red Cobras have endured a losing house-league season, but the Chatham Maroons made them feel like big winners.

by Mark Malone,
Chatham Daily News

original article

The Kent U11 Red Cobras have endured a losing house-league hockey season, but the Chatham Maroons made them feel like big winners.

The Maroons accepted the team’s request to help at a recent practice and offer the youngsters some tips.

Then, the team toured the Maroons’ dressing room at Chatham Memorial Arena.“It’s awesome,” Red Cobras trainer Dax Biondi said. “They get to see how the older guys play and get some motivation from them. I think they had a great time tonight.”Goalie Max Jaconelli, 9, wisely was out of his net when the Maroons showed off their shots.“One shot went so fast, I wouldn’t be able to block it,” he said.

Chatham Maroons’ Aydan Doyle is hugged during practice with the Kent U11 Red Cobras house league team. (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)

Maroons players Carter Chadwick, Aydan Doyle, Evan Krell, Boris Genov and Aidan Edwards attended the practice. They celebrated the Red team’s goals as much as the kids.

“You see all the little kids at games, so giving back to the community was good,” Chadwick said. “The Red team’s had some struggles throughout the year, so hopefully they get the win next game.”

The Red Cobras are still seeking their first playoff victory after a winless regular season in the Kent Minor Hockey Association.

The lack of success hasn’t stopped them from enjoying themselves.

“They’re having a great time,” Biondi said. “They’re having a lot of fun out there playing hard.

“I had one kid come up to me and ask me at the end of the game if we won or lost. He wasn’t sure because he was having so much fun out there. That’s the important thing.”