You won’t find many European players cruising the ice in the GOJHL, but every year a handful of prospects cross the Atlantic to the Junior B loop in hopes of chasing their hockey dreams.
This season in Chatham, one such hockey player, 18-year-old Carl Stapleton of Sweden, is doing just that with the Chatham Maroons.
“I have always wanted to play here when I was growing up,” said Stapleton about moving to North America to play hockey. “I felt it would be a great opportunity to play at a higher level with the possibility of eventually playing at some level of professional hockey.”
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For local hockey fans, the name Stapleton and professional hockey are nearly synonymous, as Carl Stapleton’s grandfather, Pat, spent 15 seasons in the NHL and WHA, most notably with the Chicago Blackhawks, and also represented Canada at the 1972 Summit Series. As well, his uncle Mike Stapleton played nearly 700 regular season NHL games for seven teams.
In fact, it was these family ties, with grandpa Pat still residing just down the road in Strathroy, that helped Stapleton land his opportunity in North America.
“While I was here visiting my grandparents, I was skating at my grandfather’s hockey camp and that led to an invitation to a summer skate here in Chatham with some of the Maroons veterans,” explained Stapleton.
Although Stapleton said he misses his family and friends from Karlstad, Sweden, he’s excited to play in Chatham, and learn the North American game.
“I feel the style of game here is faster with more physical contact,” said Stapleton of his early experiences in the GOJHL with the Chatham Maroons.
“Smaller rinks don’t allow for a lot of time to make plays or make decisions. Different types of skills are needed to suit the European style game compared to the North American style of game because the size of the rinks.”
Last season, playing on bigger ice with Arvika HC in Sweden’s Second Division, Stapleton collected three goals and seven assists in 27 games.
Stapleton has played a key role in the Chatham Maroons’ strong start this season, and is improving each game. His quick adaptation to the North American game and culture, has been, according to Stapleton, due to the support he has felt from his teammates, coaching staff, and billet family
“It has been a great experience so far living and playing here in Chatham,” said Stapleton. “I have wonderful teammates, coaches, training staff, and owners that have welcomed me into the Chatham Maroon family. My billet family has made me feel right at home and part of their family,” continued Stapleton of his billets, the Twigg family – Brad, Julie, Hunter, and Braden – who he is living with in Chatham.
Being so far from home undoubtedly comes with challenges, but for a hockey fan and athlete such as Stapleton, the time change from Sweden to Canada also has a few perks.
“I like the fact that the NHL games are at a regular time of day. In Sweden I had to watch NHL games in the middle of the night because of the time change,” explains Stapleton of watching his NHL hockey heroes back home.
Although he still has much work to do, someday, Stapleton hopes to carry on his family name, and be the player other aspiring hockey prospects in Sweden stay up all night to watch on TV. For now, he’ll continue to develop his game, and work toward a GOJHL title with the Chatham Maroons.
