In
what was a hard hitting series the local lads proved just a little too much for
the Coyotes as they swept a good Elmvale team and therefore advancing to the
OMHA semi-finals.
Listowel was prepared for a physical series with Elmvale as
the 2 teams had split their previous meetings earlier in the year. Game 1 in
Listowel started as predicted with both teams trying to establish their physical
strengths. It would be the Coyotes that would get on the board 1st
just 2 minutes into the game, however undaunted the Cyclones would start to
push back mid-way through the period. However it wouldn’t be until mid-way
through the 2nd until the home team would hit the scoreboard. Then
with the momentum in their favour the Cycs would tally twice more before the
end of the period. The 3rd
period would see both teams generate some scoring chances but it would be
Listowel that would capitalize twice giving them the 5-1 victory.
Game 2 in Elmvale was much the same as both teams continued
to play a similar style… physical and tenacious fore-checking. However this time it would be Listowel that
would take the lead in the dying seconds of the 1st period, then
extending it early in the 2nd. Undaunted the Coyotes would close the
gap to 1 mid-way through the 2nd, only to have the Cycs restore the
2 goal lead just over a minute later. The Cycs defense remained solid
throughout the 3rd limiting Elmvale’s chances while the offense
managed to tip one more pass the Coyote’s goaltender making the final 4-1 for
Listowel
Game 3 was back in Listowel for a late afternoon game, and despite
playing 3 games in 3 days neither team showed signs of fatigue. However this
game would prove to be more of a defensive/goaltending duo, as scoring chances
were hard to come by, and when they did the both goaltenders stood strong. Like
game 2 it would be the Cycs who would score 1st about 4 minutes into
the 2nd period, however the Coyotes would tie the game up before the
end of the period. The 3rd saw both teams focus on defense 1st
thus limiting scoring chances but the home town Cycs would bang home a
goal-mouth scramble with 5 minutes remaining in the period. Again the defense would come up big during
the remainder of the game holding off the charging Coyotes, securing the 2-1
victory and a berth in the OMHA semi-finals against either Highland or
Ennismore.