The Midget AE Cyclone began their All Ontario title defense on the weekend versus Mitchell with a pair of victories.
Friday night the Cycs travelled to Mitchell in what could only be described as an ugly affair. Listowel opened the scoring on the first shift of the game as Eric Boivert tucked home his first of 5 goals on the night. Mitchell seemed to concede the game at this point as they spent the rest of the night verbally sparing with Cyclone players, the bench and the officials. Boisvert would add his 2nd 2 minutes later on the power-play, converting a nice feed from Jackson Martin. Mitchell would get on the board shortly after, but Anthony Quipp’s point shot would make it 3-1 at the end of one (assists Hicks). The 2nd period saw more of the same as both teams discussed the weather on ever stoppage of play but it would be Boisvert who would continue to light the lamp as he added his 3rd & 4th of the game (Martin & Jacklin picked up assists). After the break the Cycs refocused their efforts to playing the game and this seemed to frustrate the Meteors even more as the Meteors continued to accumulate the penalty minutes, while the Cycs continued to score. Boisvert would tally his 5th of the game while Michael Lockie and Drew Hicks each added a goal in the 3rd (assists Quipp-2, Martin). When the dust cleared the Cycs walked out with an 8-3 victory, while Mitchell accumulated 65 minutes in penalties and 3 suspensions (Listowel had 32 minutes)
Game 2 started out completely different as a more determined Mitchell team took the ice. Despite the shorten bench they came out hard and where rewarded early in the 1st period. The hometown Cycs where caught off guard a little, but by mid-way through the period their tenuous fore-checking combined with good puck movement began to take its toll. Boisvert would again open the scoring for the AE’s as he buried a shot from the slot (assists Martin, Nelson). Solid goaltending by Nathan Fletcher & the Mitchell tender would keep the game tied through 1 period. The 2nd period was all Listowel, as the Mitchell team began to tire, the Cycs continued to pressure, resulting in 3 unanswered goals. Ryan Nelson would give the Cycs the led as his low point shot budged the twine (Lockie, Martin drew assists). Chris Daviau would notch the next as his seeing-eye shot found the back of the net (assists Jacklin, Cleary), then Boisvert would round out the period with a laser to the top corner (Martin drew the assist). With the comfortable led the hometown Cycs would add 1 more in the 3rd (Martin scoring with Boisvert & Daviau drawing assists) cruising to a 6-1 victory and the 2-0 series led.
Game 3 of the series is Monday Jan. 26
th @ 9:15 in Mitchell, Game 4 (if necessary would be Thursday Jan. 29
th @ 9:30 in Listowel.