The Listowel Cyclones open up their Sutherland Cup run Wednesday night.
The team practiced Tuesday to get some last skating in before Game 1.
Coach Jason Brooks says the team was watching Monday's game between Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. And the Niagara Falls win gave Listowel another life.
"You take any opportunity you can get and make the most of it," said Brooks. "And in this case you know, getting the wildcard spot and having the chance to compete now for a Sutherland Cup and giving our very best at that opportunity, that's what we're grateful for."
It's not going to be an easy task as London ran through their playoff run winning their conference quarter-finals in five games, the semi-finals in five games then sweeping Leamington in the final. But Brooks feels his squad showed some resilience in their Cherrey Cup series against Waterloo and can clean up some areas of their game.
"We felt we played pretty good against Waterloo and we feel we just have to clean up some areas that would have given us a better chance to have won that series," said Brooks. "In saying that we have to make sure we clean those areas up when we play London."
But as mentioned in an earlier article, the Listowel Cyclones have some wildcard experience in assistant coach Trent Brown. He was with Elmira when they won the Sutherland Cup as the wildcard entry two seasons ago.
Brooks says Brown was the first guy to stand up to highlight the opportunity.
CKNX will have the game for you on Cherrey Buslines OHA Hockey starting just before 7 p.m.
Game 2 will be in Listowel Friday at 7:30 PM and advance tickets for that game will be available at the Steve Kerr Memorial between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM Thursday night.
Here is the full Sutherland Cup semi-final schedule for London vs. Listowel:
Game 1- Wednesday, April 10 in London at 7:00 PM Game 2 – Friday, April 12 in Listowel at 7:30 PM Game 3- Sunday, April 14 in London at 7:00 PM Game 4 – Tuesday, April 16 in Listowel at 7:30 PM Game 5 – Wednesday, April 17 in London at 7:00 PM (if needed) Game 6 – Friday, April 19 in Listowel at 7:30 PM (if needed) Game 7 – Saturday, April 20 in London (if needed)
In the other series, Waterloo will open on the road in Niagara Falls at 7:00 PM on Friday night then return home for Game 2 in Waterloo at 1:30 PM on Sunday.
