Back-to-back 1st place finishes, an incredible defensive record, and a team loaded with veteran talent looking for one more deep playoff run.
The Listowel Cyclones get their playoff journey started this Friday, and they'll take on the Guelph Hurricanes in a first round match-up that, let's be honest, looks a tad one-sided. Guelph is a well coached team with young talent in the pipeline, but they're taking on a Midwest Juggernaut that can't seem to be slowed down. Listowel smashed last season's franchise record for points with 88 this year, losing only 5 games in regulation and 7 in total. There are a number of impressive stats that litter this lineup, but the only one you really need to know, and that says everything about this team is this: 100 goals allowed. In 50 games. To average only 2 goals against at the Jr. B level is insane, and speaks to the buy-in and commitment that Head Coach Jason Brooks has instilled in this group. The next best defensive team was the Stratford Warriors, who allowed 146. That's a monstrous gap. The crazy thing about this team, is they're just as good on offense. 232 goals this year, which only trailed Stratford's 241. This team is laden with veterans, most of whom were on last year's dominant Cherrey Cup winning team. This year, the sights are set higher, as this group looks for an improbable double trophy run, fully capable of winning the Cherrey and Sutherland Cups. The journey begins with Guelph. How do they stack up?
Up front, the Cyclones are a 4-line wrecking ball that comes in waves. This team is so cohesive, and it doesn't matter who plays with who on a night-to-night, or even shift-to-shift basis. Chayse Herrfort had a sensational season, leading the team in scoring with 70 points, and finishing second in goals with 29. First in goals with 30 was Cullen Mercer, who might be the most complete forward in the league in terms of 3-zone effectiveness. Had Mercer not missed 14 games with an upper back injury, he very well could have challenged for the scoring title, captured by Stratford's Jack Scanlan, and surely would have led the Cycs in scoring. The fact Mercer put up 54 points is astounding considering the time he missed. Last year's leading scorer on the team, Holdyn Lansink, put up 67 points, Jakob Lee exploded when Mercer went down and finished with 64, and Ben Van Ooteghem rounded out the 50-plus club with 50 even. That isn't even taking into consideration the depth scoring of Mitch Deelstra, Caleb Warren, Tommy Hoogars, etc., etc. There's a ton of high caliber weapons here, and they're firing on all cylinders.
Defensively, it simply doesn't get much better than the Cyclones. This D-core is well rounded, versatile, and has a lot of different dimensions to it. Max Coyle is the big gun here, as he finished with 50 points and played a ton of minutes in every situation. There might not be a better two-way D operating in the Midwest. Keaton Willis had another stellar year with 28 points, quarterbacking power plays and using his slick skating and passing ability to turn odd-man rushes the other way. Brenden Clayton has become a physical force in his own end, and the neutral zone, frequently catching opponents off guard with thundering hits. Danny Skinner has become a steady defensive workhorse who can effectively jump into rushes and make great outlet passes. Garrett Russell is the big, mean, crease clearer that plays with an edge that sometimes gets him in trouble, but when he's on the ice opposing forwards are aware. Young Jagger O'Toole improved in leaps and bounds this year, and his steady improvement landed him on the All-Rookie team in the division. Buoyed by a great commitment from the forwards to back check, led by Best Defensive Forward in co-captain Caleb Warren, and you can see why this team dominated the field when it comes to stingy D.
In net, the Cyclones once again had a tremendous showing from their goaltending duo. After Justin Herrgott was moved out mid-season, Evan Reinhart joined the fold as the backup to Max Wright, who joined the team in the off-season from the now defunct Cambridge organization. Wright had big shoes to fill after the rookie season that Brock Baier turned in last year, becoming Rookie of the Year and backstopping the team to a title. Wright just went quietly about his business, putting up a record of 27-4-0 with 2 shutouts, a 2.14 GAA and a .926 save percentage in 31 starts. Reinhart got into 11 games and posted a 9-1-0 record with Listowel, to go with 2 shutouts of his own, a 1.64 GAA and a whopping .938 save percentage. The stats were tremendous for this tandem, and a big reason why they were recognized for Best Team Goaltending this season. It doesn't matter which goalie Listowel plays in front of, they both are sound positionally, rarely are forced to make diving acrobatic saves, and consistently give the Cyclones a chance to be in, and usually control, every game.
Guelph, by virtue of finishing in last place in the Midwest, is in a rebuilding phase, but they can still cause problems if teams take them lightly. Offensively, the team was paced by Anthony Mota, who had a stellar 45 points, including 26 goals. Mota has shown that if he were surrounded by more talent, he could easily eclipse the 60-70 point plateau. However, on a younger squad that is a little bereft of high end skill, Mota is the main man in terms of danger for Guelph. Matthew Chard and Keanan Stewart are capable of driving the net and creating a cycle game, while Bradley Smith and Mathieu Mercier bring some skill and grit, respectively. In saying that, this team only managed 102 goals, by far the lowest next to Brantford's 139. Guelph will have a really tough time finding consistent chances outside of power plays against the most robust D-core in the league.
On the back end, Guelph experienced more youthful growing pains. That said, their 179 goals allowed was 5th best in the Midwest, and the team improved in its own end as the season dragged on. Payton McLeish had a solid season, posting 16 points and playing in a majority of on-ice situations for Head Coach Adam Wallace. Niki Molson, Brett Hunter and Mason Sinkeldam can all bring different looks to the table in terms of puck movement and physicality, with Sinkeldam in particular being a bruising customer as evidenced by his 145 PIMs on the season. But like the rest of the roster for Guelph, the D-core is also in a transitional phase as the team looks to secure young talent to build back up to where they were a few years ago. With the well rounded and deep attack that Listowel offers, this unit will get put through the ringer in a trial by playoff fire.
In goal, Guelph has a very bright future in young Jet Greaves, who was named the goalie on the All-Rookie team. Greaves saw a monstrous amount of rubber alongside Trenton McGrail this year. As a young 17-year-old, Greaves played 35 games for Guelph, boasting a record of 10-23-0 with 4 shutouts, a 3.46 GAA and .899 save percentage. Those are really solid numbers based on the team in front of him some nights, and he should be commended for his efforts this year in the blue paint. Greaves, a 3rd round pick of the Barrie Colts last year, looks to be a great foundation for Guelph to build around next year. McGrail made 20 appearances this year, coming in for relief some nights when Greaves was left hanging. McGrail posted a record of 2-13-1, with a 3.30 GAA and .888 save percentage, and he performed well given the circumstances of having to mop up the mess on some nights when the Hurricanes were outmatched. Both goalies have played well in a few showings against Listowel this year, but the Cyclones still dominated the season series 6-1, outscoring Guelph 30-9. It will tough for either goalie to handle that discrepancy in a playoff series.
Listowel look like an even more well-oiled machine than last season's Cherrey Cup squad, and this team is hungry to go even further this year. Guelph will have their hands full, and with all due respect, this looks like it could be a quick one. The series gets underway Friday, March 2nd at the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex in Listowel at 7:30 p.m., and Steve Sabourin and Scott Bridge will have the call.
For more on the season, and the upcoming series against Guelph, here is a full-length interview with Cyclones Head Coach Jason Brooks.
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