MICHAEL BENNETT
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If
ever a person was destined to be involved in sports and associated with the
Maroon organization it would be Mike Bennett. His dad Al (Big Ben) Bennett
was the outstanding goaltender for the old Senior Maroons and because of
that Mike practically grew up in the Maroons dressing room during the
illustrious years of the Allan Cup champs.
As a youngster he would then be at the Junior Maroon games and seeing all the Jr. Maroon greats – the Wakabayashis, Wright, Lindros, Waddicks, McCord, MacLeish, Byrnes, etc. in the 60’s and early 70’s. As a minor hockey player his dream was to become one of the Maroons. Life was good as Mike passed through his early school years involved in all sports in his community, Chatham.
In 1972 the Maroons were playing in the SOJHL and were involved in the famous playoff series against the Detroit Jr. Red Wings. In all, 23 buses made the trip from Chatham to Detroit for Game 7 of the finals and Mike had a ticket for the last bus going. Then the next year in ’73 the Maroons were playing Guelph in game 8 of a best of 9 in the SOJHL finals and the game was on a Tuesday afternoon at the arena. Mike skipped school and went to the game and reportedly saw several of his teachers there as well.
As a 15 year old Mike had his first try out with Jr. “A” Maroons and non other than Bill Saunders was the coach of his try out team. Mike was unceremoniously cut by George Aitken, who decided to keep Rick Heinz (future NHLer) and Tony Piroskie (future IHLer). That same 73-74 season the late Joe Zimmer asked Mike to take over his role as a London Free Press correspondent and cover the Maroons. It started out just calling in the game score and goal scorers. But Dale Stolk at the Free Press soon had him writing game stories and dictating them over the phone (pre-fax and computer days). This led to covering high school sports for the Free Press as well.
After graduating from CCI in June 1975, he was accepted to Sheridan College and attended their new sports trainer/management program. Then in his second year, he decided to stay in Chatham and work for the city for one year to save money to return to school in ’76. He was hired by Bill Saunders in December of ‘75 as a sports reporter, beginning a 31 year career with the Chatham News. During that time he covered virtually hundreds of Maroons games, home and away, from ’73 to ’91, until his position became a desk job in ’92.
During this time Mike served as a goalie coach for the Maroon during the ‘80’s. Highlights for him include covering Game 9 of the 1986 Maroons-Diamonds series, Brian Wiseman’s record breaking night and the 1989 Micmacs championship game, Chatham’s first title since that Tuesday afternoon game in 1973.
Mike is still playing hockey for the Chatham Maroon Oldtimers as well as providing coverage for the Maroons on CK Sports Online.