Despite Chatham's loss in Leamington last night, a member of the Maroons had a night he won't soon forget.
Carl Stapleton, who hails from Sweden, scored his first ever goal on North American soil. And while it was a special one, he was clearly disappointed it came in a loss. "I was hoping to produce a little bit more obviously," says Stapleton. "It's just it's always tough to get the first one but then now I got that one out of the way." He's hoping that's going to be the first of many more to come. As for the puck, "that will go on my shelf back home (in Sweden) for sure."
Through 26 games Stapleton has one goal and seven assists. The 6"2' 192 lbs. Swede signed with the Maroons after a tryout over the summer. He turns 19 in just ten days.
Stapleton's father Tom played junior hockey in Canada before moving to Sweden in the mid 1980s to play pro hockey. His grandfather Pat Stapleton, who was born in Sarnia, played ten seasons in the NHL and represented Canada in the 1972 Summit Series.