The Chatham Maroons are set to honour one of the greatest players to ever wear one of their jerseys.
Bill and Karen Szekesy, the owners of the Junior ‘B’ hockey club announced on Tuesday, that the current Maroons will wear a special remembrance sticker on their helmets in memory of former Junior Maroon great Ken Houston, who died on Saturday after a battle with cancer.
“Our thoughts and Prayers go out to the entire Houston family from our family and the entire Maroons’ organization,’ the Szekesy’s said in a statement.
“Ken’s presence is definitely felt in Memorial Arena through the Chatham Maroon Alumni’s ‘Legends on Ice’ display cabinets. We felt it only fitting that the current Maroons and today’s fans understand the contribution that Ken made to the Maroons.”
The Maroons will wear a special remembrance decal, which was designed by Dean Outhouse of RPM Designs.
The team will start wearing the decal during their semi-final playoff series against the London Nationals.
Maroons officials say additional memorabilia regarding Ken’s career has also been added to the Legends display cabinet by alumni member, Brian Bennett.
In a poll of the top 15 Chatham Maroons of all-time, compiled by CKSN writer Dwight
Wakabayashi, Houston was selected 2nd all-time.
“When people speak of Ken Houston in a Maroons uniform, dominance is the word that is used most in the conversation,” Wakabayashi wrote.
“Houston went on to be one of the most successful professional players from the Chatham area, but his dominance was most noted with the Maroons. His size and ability around the net were second to no one who played in the uniform and he was the main player when the Maroons won the Buckland Jr. A Cup in 1972-73. Houston got a few votes to be the number one on this list. Many call Houston the best player on the best team in Maroons history. It’s hard to argue with that.”
Houston was drafted by the Atlanta Flames in the 1973 NHL Entry Draft.
He played seven seasons for the Flames, including two after the team relocated to Calgary.
He was traded to the Washington Capitals in the 1981–82 NHL season. He played there until October 1983 when he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings.
He retired at the end of the 1983–84 NHL season.
In 570 career NHL games Houston scored 161 goals and had 167 assists for 328 points.
He also recorded 624 penalty minutes.
In 35 career NHL playoff games Houston scored 10 goals and added 9 assists for 19 career playoff points. He also had 66 penalty minutes in those 35 games.
A visitation is being held on Thursday, March 15, at the McKinlay Funeral Home, 459 St. Clair Street, Chatham from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Houston’s funeral is being held on Friday at 12 p.m. at the John D. Bradley Centre, 565 Richmond Street, Chatham.
A private family interment is being held in the Dresden Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Houston’s family is asking for donations to be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Read more, here: Former NHLer from Dresden loses battle with cancer
