The Listowel Cyclone Bantams came up just a little short in
their bid to capture the International Silver Stick championship losing 4-2 in
the Finals to the Ottawa Mississippi Thunder Kings.
After 4 tough games the local lads found themselves up
against the number 1 provincially ranked team from Carleton Place (near
Ottawa). The game was a fast paced, close checking affair throughout. The Cycs
seemed to hold the territorial edge for most of the 1st period &
the early part of the 2nd, but were unable to find the back of the
net. The Cycs had a glorious chance to open the scoring when Austin McGrath was
awarded a penalty shot after being hauled down on a break-away, however despite
beating the goaltender he just couldn’t get enough wood on the shot. Undaunted
the boys continued to press and just 30 seconds later Lucas Jamieson converted
a 2 on 1 to open the scoring. The Thunder Kings would respond shortly after
tying the score then seemed to take control for the balance of the 2nd
period. After a well needed rest the local boys pushed back similar to the
start of the game, but unfortunately a couple penalties mid-way through the 3rd
would prove to be costly as Mississippi would score on both of them, thus
taking a 3-1 lead. As the young men had done all weekend they refused to quite,
and with 6 minutes remaining Derek Fischer would pull the Cycs to within 1 (Reid
Gooding assisted). The Listowel lads continuous pressure forced the Thunder
Kings into a late game penalty, but while on the power-play and with the goalie
pulled the Cycs were assessed a penalty that awarded the Mississippi the empty
net goal and the 4-2 victory.
The weekend started on Friday as the Cycs opened the
tournament against the Wasaga Beach Regional champions from Parry Sound. The Listowel
team’s tenacious fore-checking hemmed the Shamrocks in their zone for most of
the 1st period, but it wasn’t until the 2nd period that
their efforts paid off, as they scored 4 times. Cooper Miller got the team
going early in the 2nd , then the line of Jamieson, Michael
Uptigrove and Brett MacLeod would connect for the next 3. Each scoring once and
adding 2 assists. Despite a couple Parry Sound goals the 3rd was
much of the same, as the Cycs added 3 more, making the final 7-2. Jamieson,
Josh Gottfried and Fischer were the scorers while assists went to Will Calder (2),
Miller, Owen Locke and Gooding.
The 2nd game of the weekend was against the
Watford Regional champions from West London. The size and speed of the Cycs
seemed to catch the London team off guard as they struggled to keep up, and
therefore took several penalties. Despite the being on the power-play for a lot
of the game the Listowel lads just couldn’t capitalize. It wasn’t until mid-way
through the 3rd that the game seemed to break open, resulting in the
3-1 victory. Tallying for the Cycs was Jaimeson (2) and Fischer, with assists
going to McGrath, Calder, Uptigrove and Josh Coelho.
Game 3 pitted the Cycs against an American Regional champion
from Rome, NY. It featured much of what had become the local lads trademark… tenacious
fore-checking, along with good puck movement. Fischer would open the scoring in the 1st
period (Coelho, Miller assisting) but again it wouldn’t be until the 3rd
period that the flood gates would open, as the Listowel team scored 4 times.
Miller, Jamieson, Curtis Jackson and Gooding would budge the twine (Reese
reading, Fischer, Jamieson & McGrath drawing assists) and with Nic O’Grady’s
earning the shutout the final would be 5-0 for the Cycs.
In the crossover semi-finals on Sunday morning the Listowel
team would face Ingersol. The game featured a dominate effort by the Cyclone
team as well as the Ingersol goaltender. Listowel peppered the opposition
tender with plenty of shots, however he stood strong. Again it was Jamieson
that would get the team going as tucked home a rebound with seconds remaining
in the 1st (Jackson assisting). Ingersol would capitalize in the 2nd
on a bad Cyclone bounce, but the balance of the game was all Cycs. Despite several
great chances this game would need overtime. Then with many Listowel fans
cheering them on (thanks to the Atom parents and players for their support)
Jamieson would bury another rebound giving the local lads the 2-1 victory and a
berth in the International SS Finals.
Although the tournament didn’t end exactly as
planned the Bantam Cycs have nothing to hang their heads on. The coaching staff
and parent all know they had a great tournament leaving everything on the ice. Special congratulation goes out to Lucas
Jamieson and Will Calder who were named to the tournament all-star team… well
done and well deserved. Unfortunately as hockey goes, there isn’t a lot of times
to reminisce as they now open up their OMHA quest against a good Kincardine team
this weekend. Good luck Cycs.
Despite the sad looking faces the team should be proud of their efforts... Team Members Goaltenders Sam Johston, Nic O'Grady; middle row (L-R) Reese Reading, Reid Gooding, Curtis Jackson, Owen Locke, Michael Uptigrove; back row (L-R) Rob Hollinger -coach, Brian Tucker -trainer, Austin McGrath, Bruce Fitzgerald -coach, Brett MacLeod, Derek Fischer, Lucas Jamieson, Josh Gottfried, Cooper Miller, Will Calder, Josh Coelho, Jerry Rozendal -coach, Larry Gordon -manager