For just the second time in their franchise history, the Listowel Cyclones are Cherrey Cup champions in the GOJHL Midwest.
The Cyclones shut out Elmira 3-0 in Game 6 of the series to clinch the championship 4-2.
Led by Brock Baier's 26 save performance, the Cyclones were able to take advantage of one of their two power plays on the night to get on the scoreboard first.
Cullen Mercer opened the scoring at 16:58 of the first period when he snapped the puck high glove side by Elmira goalie Jonathan Reinhart during Listowel's man advantage.
Listowel's second goal came at 5:12 in the third period as Jakob Lee won the draw in the Elmira zone back to Holdyn Lansink and he fired it from the top of the face-off circle over the shoulder of the goalie. Lansink would add to his GOJHL leading playoff scoring lead with an empty net goal to seal it late in the game.
For Lansink that was his 28th point of the playoffs. And with the shutout Sunday, Baier leads the GOJHL playoffs in save percentage at .945. He is tied for wins with London's Cameron Zanussi with 12. Baier also has the second best GAA at 1.55, just behind Caledonia's Bradley Van Schubert.
"So many guys competed tonight," said Baier. "We knew we weren't going to let this one slip out of our hands. We all showed up to play and what a feeling it is."
"We worked so hard for this all year long, and it feels awesome, it feels so good," said Lansink. "Last year we made big strides and we labeled ourselves as a hard working team and we added a bit more skill this year."
For some, it really hits close to home. Co-Captains Caleb Warren and Blake Nichol grew up in Listowel.
"It's a dream come true being a home town kid," said Warren. "We wanted this for four years and we worked so hard to get it."
And for those that came back to the team, or joined it later in the season, the thought of a championship was in the back of their minds.
Jamie Huber played for the Cyclones last year but started this season with a junior club in British Columbia. He later rejoined his former teammates, some from his Lakers' days, just halfway through the season.
"Growing up with the guys on the minor hockey teams you always dream of winning junior championships," said Huber. "And to finally be here and do it, it's just amazing to be here with the guys."
But for the man who was at the head of the operation, although he will always put the spotlight on the players and those around him, it was the tenacity the team showed when it was down early.
"We got better every day," said head coach Jason Brooks. "The thing that impressed me about this group is the character. Falling behind in the series 2-0, it didn't rattle them. They went back to work at practice and found a way in those games."
The playoff road doesn't end here, for both teams.
The Cherrey Cup is the Midwest Conference title. The next cup is the Sutherland where the conference winners and a wild card battle for provincial bragging rights.
Listowel will play London in one Sutherland Cup semi-final and the Sugar Kings get in as the wild card and will face Caledonia.
Those are both Best of 7 series with the schedules yet to be set.
Cherrey Buslines OHA Hockey on CKNX will continue with the Listowel-London series.
--with contributions from Ryan Drury
