After a solid regular season and tough playoff exit last year, the Listowel Cyclones look to continue their upward trajectory.
Head Coach Jason Brooks, who now also takes on the role of President of Hockey Operations, says he wants the team to improve upon last year. After a somewhat slow start to 2015-16, the Cyclones went on a tear through Christmas and the end of the season to finish 3rd in the Midwestern Conference with 66 points, behind eventual Cherrey Cup champions Stratford and 1st place Kitchener. Despite the strong finish, however, the Cyclones were swept by a surprisingly hot Waterloo Siskins team that also swept away Kitchener, and gave the Stratford Cullitons a stiff test in the Cherrey Cup. With some notable roster change, Brooks is looking forward to taking the team on a deeper run this year.
Up front, the losses of veterans Tim Nauta, Ray McFalls and Ben Shelley, the latter of which spent 5 years with the club, will hurt the offense as well as the leadership core. All three are aged out of junior. Also departing is leading scorer Jamie Huber, who makes his way to the BCHL this year. However, there is still plenty of talent here, and goal scoring should not be a concern. Brady Anderson will return after scoring 60 points last year, 2nd to Huber, and can offer more. Holdyn Lansink offers grit and forechecking, and can bang in the greasy goals, and add to last year's total of 19. Tomas Azzano joins the fold from OJHL Pickering Panthers, where he had 11 points in limited duty with the Junior A club. The Cyclones are also excited about the addition of Wingham Ironmen forward Mitch Deelstra, who has great hands and isn't afraid to attack the crease.
On the blueline, things continue to look good, as Keaton Willis will return to provide smooth skating and great offensive instincts, as he chipped in 26 points last year. Kade Landry is unlikely to return, however, as Coach Brooks thinks he has a really great shot at cracking the Barrie Colts OHL roster this year. In the event he should return, though, he would be a welcome addition, as his 27 points led all Cyclones D last year. Austin Huizenga and Corey Flemington are both too old to return, but the team thinks young players like Max Coyle and Riley Robertson can offset that and improve upon their totals from last year. The D corps in Listowel will likely shape up like last year's; a solid, puck rushing group that can physically outwork forwards and protect the crease admirably.
In regards to goaltending, the Cyclones will miss veteran rock Tyler Fassel, who joins OJHL Trenton. Fassel played 46 games last year, winning 30, and had very solid numbers in the blue paint for Listowel. But there should be no dramatic drop-off in net at all, as the Cyclones signed Brock Baier, an impressive goalie prospect out of Junior C Mitchell. Baier was drafted by the Windsor Spitfires in this year's OHL Draft, and will look to the challenge of being the man in a Junior B net before cracking a strong Windsor crease that is prepping for a Memorial Cup run as hosts in 2017. Baier was dominant at times as a 16-year-old last year in Mitchell, and was a rock down the stretch for the Hawks. He is talented and big enough in net to have a similar impact with Listowel. Baier sites Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby as his favourite, and if he can even somewhat emulate what Holtby does, the Cyclones will have a real rock in their blue paint.
After a 33-17 record in 2015-16, Coach Brooks says his main goal is to make this team better everyday. He thinks a Cherrey Cup run is highly possible, and he says in the very least moving up the standings in the division would be a great achievement. For more on the Cyclones and their upcoming Junior B campaign, check out the full length chat with Head Coach and President of Hockey Operations, Jason Brooks:
[audio wav="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/JASON-BROOKS-CYCLONES.wav"][/audio]
