Article Credit: The Chatham Daily News

Owning the Chatham Maroons fulfils a decade-long goal for Lakeshore businessman Bill Szekesy.

He watched Sunday's game at Memorial Arena with his management team — director of business development Andrew Doran and director of hockey development Bill Bowler — after buying the junior 'B' club from Larry Keenan and his family for an undisclosed price.

Szekesy got into hockey at four years old, but he stopped playing competitively at 13 when his father died.

Ten years ago, he became "infatuated" with his hometown Belle River Canadiens.

"It was my goal one day to get a hockey team and I started looking," he said. "I looked at junior 'C' and it didn't impress me. Junior 'B' did."

He followed the Maroons, Leamington Flyers and Tecumseh Chiefs (now LaSalle Vipers) of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

The Maroons offered what he wanted: tradition, fan support, a well-run organization and close proximity to his home.

"Chatham, to me, is a beautiful town and, quite honestly, I think it's a perfect location," Szekesy said.

He doesn't plan any immediate changes to the management or coaching staff.

"We've got a good staff in place and everyone's doing a great job," he said.

Szekesy is the principal owner of the QM Group of Companies, which specialize in plastics and mouldmaking.

The sale was completed Friday and announced Sunday.

Keenan, who remains the team president, had been a co-owner since buying the team from the Torrie family in 2004 with Heritage Sports Group partners Max Fantuz, Dave Easter and Marc Swayze. The Torries kept a minority stake until 2006.

Keenan and his wife, Sandra Swayze-Keenan, bought out Fantuz and Easter in 2008. Swayze, who is Keenan's stepson, was a co-owner as well as head coach and general manager.

Running the team had become too much work for the family, Keenan said. They were willing to sell, but not to just anyone.

"We had talked that if the right group came along with the same passion that we had and the love for hockey and the concern for the fans and everything, that we would strongly consider it," said Keenan, 65. "And after having a number of meetings with these people, it was evident they had the passion, they had the financial backing, they were extremely impressed with the way the hockey club is run and they have followed the success of the Chatham Jr. Maroons for a long time.

"Their commitment to want to continue to provide a quality program and also continue to support the Maroon Alumni were factors that said these people are going to be good partners in this endeavour."

Keenan began volunteering with the Maroons in 1959 and continued in the 1960s, '70s and '80s. He returned in 1996 when the Torries bought the team.

He has mixed emotions about the sale.

"It's a little bit emotional from the standpoint of losing control," he said. "It's great from the standpoint of knowing that we have more people on board to help carry the workload.

"They're very energetic and they bring a lot of different skill-sets to the team."

His wife remains the director of marketing and community relations, while Swayze's wife Lindsay stays on as director of game-day operations and licensing.

"We have signed a one-year contract with these people, but I see no reason that it will not extend an indefinite period of time," Keenan said.

The sale will also let Swayze focus on his coaching and GM duties, he said.

Bowler, whose eight-year pro career included a nine-game stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2000-01, said he'll offer support and suggestions for the coaches.

"I won't be day-to-day," he said, "but I'll try to definitely complement and help the staff that's in place now."

Bowler was a 100-point scorer in three of his four OHL seasons with the Windsor Spitfires. He was a Spitfires assistant coach in 2005-06 and now works as a financial adviser.

Bowler also coaches the Windsor Midget 'AAA' Jr. Spitfires, including Szekesy's son Steven.

The Maroons won three Western league championships under Keenan's co-ownership in 2004, '05 and '06.

Szekesy said he's also committed to winning.

"Do whatever it takes to win," he said. "They're doing a great job. They have a great start."

The Maroons are 4-1-0 after beating the Lambton Shores Predators 8-6 on Sunday.