Mar 20, 2026 | Brent Berfelz | 4 views
FROM SHAMROCKS TO CHAMPIONS
, THE U11 LISTOWEL CYCLONES STRIKE GOLD AT THE GORD HYMERS TOURNAMENT!
The U11 Listowel Cyclones entered the March break competing in the 59th annual Gord Hymers Tournament where they delivered a standout performance skating to an undefeated record and capturing the championship. Making the victory even more meaningful was what the players wore on the ice. The team proudly donned special green St. Paddy’s Day jerseys donated by the Listowel Jr B. Cyclones, creating a special connection between the next generation of players and the program’s established talent. In their opening game against the Howick Hornets, the team got off to a slow start but quickly found their form and skated to a 5-2 victory. Friday afternoon saw Listowel play the Walkerton Capitals in a game that they controlled from start to finish. Strong passing and teamwork led to several goals scored resulting in a 13-3 win. Despite an early Saturday morning start and a stormy one at that, the team did not let this impact their performance. After a slight first period lead by the Cyclones, they would later generate some offense skating to a 6-1 win over the Ayr Flames which secured the team a spot in the semi-finals Sunday morning. Saturday afternoon featured a skills competition for forward/backward skating, a shootout and goaltending. Representing the Listowel Cyclones were Barrett Berfelz, Carter Ropp, Jared Smith and Myles Elliott. Congratulations to Jared who won the shootout portion, executing several good shots. Sunday morning’s semi-final game would see Listowel battle the Wallace Sabres. The stands were filled with many local fans to watch the two teams play what was a very close and exciting game. A 3-0 lead for the Cyclones quickly diminished when Wallace scored two goals with three minutes remaining in the third period. Listowel would hold on to secure the 3-2 victory which would see them face the Central Perth Predators in the finals. The Predators had only lost one game during the regular season and the Cyclones knew they would be up against some tough competition. The Predators got out to a quick lead scoring one in the first minute of the game but Listowel would come back to tie it. The Cycs took the lead in the second period but it wasn’t long before Central Perth would tie it at 2-2. The winning goal was scored early in the third and several saves were made by Myles Elliott in net. The remaining seconds of the game made for a nail biting finish and as the final buzzer sounded, the Cyclones would become the 2026 Gord Hymers Tournament Champions! A big thank you goes to the organizers, volunteers and coaches for making the tournament run so smoothly. Your hard work and dedication made it a great experience for all participants!
Written by Carla Ropp, Edited by Claire Ropp