Nate Dietz was the hero, as his overtime winner gave the Cycs the 3-2 win and the WOAA title.
After taking a 2 games to none lead over the Kincardine Kinucks, the Cycs travelled to Kincardine for game 3 looking to end the series, however a much more determined Kinuck team was waiting. From the start you could just tell Kincardine was not going to roll over as they came out flying, forcing the play in every area. The Cycs strong positional play and goaltending kept the team in the game and actually held a 2-1 lead heading into the 3rd period, based on 2 short-handed goals by Broedy Karelse ( Keaton Willis and Tyler Hak picking up assists). However the Kinuck pressure paid dividends in the 3rd as they tied the game mid-way through the period. The Cycs had a glorious chance to steal the game with just under a minute remaining but they where unable to capitalize on a 2 on 1. Kincardine’s hard work paid off as they got the lucky bounce with just 12 seconds remaining giving them the 3-2 victory.
Game 4 back in Listowel saw a more confident Kinuck team come out forcing the play in both ends of the rink. Again the local lads relied on Steven Gottfried’s solid goaltending to keep the game close. For the 1st time in the series Kincardine notched the 1st goal of a game early in the 2nd period. The uninspired Cycs continued their lackluster play and escaped to the 2nd period intermission only down 1-0. When the 3rd period started it was like a completely different Cyclone team had taken the ice. From the drop of the puck the locals lads where much more determined, creating good scoring chances on the 1st three shifts of the period. Their new found energy was rewarded when Hak even the score at the nine minute mark (Karelse assisting). Kincardine would respond retaking the lead at the five minute mark. Then cue Nate Dietz, whose hard work set up Andrew Gooding for the tying goal a couple minutes later and eventually sending the game into overtime. The extra frame saw Listowel with the first scoring chance, and then had Kincardine generate a couple of their own. However just 3 minutes in Dietz’s shot from the wing would elude the Kinuck tender giving the Cycs the 3-2 victory, 3-1 series win and the WOAA title.
The coaching staff and parent are obviously very please with the teams gutsy performance however celebration time will be short lived as they will now go on to face Strathroy in the OMHA semi-finals.
Front row (laying) Tyler Robinson, Steven Gottfried; Middle row (L-R) Brendan Hall, Drew McKee, Nate Dietz, Andrew Gooding, Blake Buchanan, Keaton Willis, Broedy Karelse; Back row (L-R) Tyler Hak, Michael McMurren, Riley Conners, Caleb Warren, Graeden Geiger, Cole Fletcher; Coaches (L-R) Bruce Fitzgerald, Brian Tucker, Larry Gordon, Rob Hollinger, Jerry Rozendal