Midwestern

Cherrey Bus Lines OHA Friday Night Focus: Listowel Cyclones vs. Elmira Sugar Kings

Each week, Ryan Drury will preview the CKNX Cherrey Buslines OHA Hockey match-up, with pre-game analysis, reports, and quotes from the 2 teams.

With Christmas right around the corner, two bitter GOJHL rivals are hoping to bank themselves an early gift in the form of two points before taking a much needed rest from the rigors of the season.

The latest edition of the 'Battle of the 86" will see a surging Listowel Cyclones team welcome a middling Elmira unit that has had a lot of ups and downs throughout the season. The Cyclones just keep churning out wins and big goal totals, while Elmira is looking to move themselves back into the top 3 conversation, currently two points back of Waterloo for the 3rd spot. Listowel has created a real separation from 2nd place Stratford, building a gap of 8 points, aided by recent 5-2 and 7-2 romps of the Warriors. It appears the adjustment needed was minimal in terms of settling into the new Steve Kerr Memorial Complex for Listowel, as they've yet to drop points there so far. Elmira will get a very tough test from a team that's intent on being the best in all of the GOJHL.

The Cyclones have been immaculate this year under Head Coach Jason Brooks and his staff, as they continue to preach constant improvement and accountability, a key in keeping a dominant team focused. No players are allowed to stray from the program, and if they do, Brooks is there to yank them back in line. Last week, leading point man Holdyn Lansink (18 goals, 29 assists, 47 points) took an irresponsible unsportsmanlike penalty against Waterloo, which resulted in a 5-on-3 power play goal being scored. Coach Brooks let Lansink know what he thought about it as he exited the box, and then threw him right back out to help win the game in an eventual 5-4 OT win. It's that type of thing that other players notice; everyone has to pull on the rope, including the best players. No one is treated special, and it inspires a consistent work ethic that has the Cyclones running away with the Midwest with 56 points. Offensively, this team can dig themselves out of any deficit, but they're usually the ones creating them. Lansink is aided by speedster Chayse Herrfort (44 points), and the currently injured Cullen Mercer (40 points), who despite missing nearly 2 weeks leads the team with 25 goals. Factor in all the depth in goal scoring here with Jake Lee (15 goals), Ben VanOoteghem (11 goals), Brady Anderson (12 goals), Mitch Deelstra (15 goals) and co-captain Caleb Warren (11 goals) and you have 8 forwards with double-digit goal totals. That's immense depth when you can have that many players in your top 9 scoring more than 10, and is a big reason why Listowel is 2nd to only Stratford in goals with 158. The Warriors have 166.

On the back end is where Listowel really separate themselves from their competitors. Lots of teams can score, but no one defends and has a better all-around core than the Cyclones. Max Coyle staying put has been a major boost, after fears he would go to the BCHL this off season. Coyle has 37 points in 32 games, but it's his edgy defensive play and ability to frustrate top end players that make him a number 1 d-man in this league. Coyle is also a bit of an on-ice conversationalist, as he always has something to say to opponents. If one were to compare his style to a familiar NHL name, Drew Doughty certainly comes to mind. Helping carry the load is the ever-reliable Keaton Willis, an adept power play quarterback who can smoothly transition turnovers into easy offense for the Cycs. He has a great mind for the game and knows when to jump up, as his 22 points show, but his quiet leadership and work ethic is the perfect ice to Coyle's fire. It's a big reason Willis rocks a letter on his jersey. Rounding out the unit, Danny Skinner continues to impress with his defensive acumen as well as Brenden Clayton, who is a skilled skater and puck handler that makes a great outlet pass. Garrett Russell provides a big, mean body, while young Jagger O'Toole continues to hone his craft under the guidance of veterans and winners in Listowel. This core has allowed a division low 66 goals. They say defense wins championships. That may well ring true again. The next best defensive team? A tie between Stratford and Waterloo, both with 102 goals against. Mind boggling numbers.

In goal, Max Wright just continues to go to the office and produce results. 20 starts, nearly 1,200 minutes played and an 18-2-0 record with 2 shutouts. Wright is playing behind a league-best D for sure, but he has had to make excellent saves on a nightly basis, and while his numbers are maybe helped along a bit by a great team, he makes the high-danger saves almost every time. His 2.13 GAA and .922 save percentage are exactly the type of numbers you'd expect from an elite starter, and that's what this young man is. Consider last year on a bad Cambridge team, Wright won 22 games and had a .904 save percentage on a team that couldn't defend. He's darn good. As Scotty Bowman once said, "Show me a good goaltender and I'll show you a good coach." I'm sure Jason Brooks would agree, as that position alone can sink or save a season, and Wright's done nothing but save. Justin Herrgott departed after making 9 starts to go closer to home, and so Evan Reinhart sits in as backup. He's won 3 of 4 starts with sparkling numbers, and will get more game time as the stretch drive approaches to help Wright rest for a long post-season run.

For the Sugar Kings, the offense isn't quite as explosive as in recent years, or even the Sutherland Cup team of last year. While that team really rode on the back of all-star Jonathan Reinhart in net, the team still had plenty of weapons. It still does, just not as many. Ethan Skinner keeps wracking up points in his impressive junior career, but he sits 2nd in team scoring this year to Jeremy Goodwin with 38 points. Skinner (35 points), is still the focal point of this attack and if not kept in check, he can torch a defense by himself. He always gets up to play his brother Danny, on D for the Cycs, and loves to try to bury the Cyclones on any given occasion. Expect him to see a lot of Max Coyle tonight. Ethan Wiseman (30 points), Ryan Takamatsu (30 points), captain Jeff Jordan (26 points) and Zack Cameron (22 points) round out a top 6 that are skilled and play heavy, and all but Cameron have double-digit goal totals. The Sugar Kings are tied with Waterloo for third most goals at 118, so Listowel can't afford to fall asleep or take penalties too often against their hated rivals.

The blue line is where Elmira falls off in terms of matching up with Listowel, but everyone falls off in that department, as the Cyclones are the most airtight in the entire GOJHL next to Caledonia, who've only allowed 64 goals to Listowel's 66. Elmira can't boast that same type of shutdown ability. They've only allowed 106 goals against, 3rd most in the Midwest, but the unit doesn't have the same type of offensive and defensive aptitude that the Cycs have. Tyler McBay has been excellent posting 19 points and being everything you'd want in a steady number one, but the ability declines a tad after him. That's not to say Harrison Toms (11 points), Niki Molson (6 points) or Jonah Burley (3 points) who round out the top 4 aren't good, they're just a noticeable step below a team like Listowel in terms of overall ability. They can defend well and be aggressive and frustrating to match up against, but they aren't able to drive play the other direction quite like the Warriors or Cyclones can. The game tonight will likely be decided by how well this group contains a dangerous set of Cyclones attackers.

In goal, the Sugar Kings continue to get reliable puck stopping from Tyler Mazzocato and Rhett Kimmel, who have appeared in 20 and 16 games respectively. Mazzocato has put together a 9-11 record with a 3.26 GAA and .903 save percentage. Kimmel is 8-5-0 with 1 shutout and a 2.74 GAA to go with a .915 save percentage. Both goalies are able to make key saves in high danger scenarios and can keep the Sugar Kings in most contests, and whoever starts tonight will have to be sharp early and ensure this team isn't down 2 or 3 after the first.

The 'Battle of the 86' is always one of my favourite contests to cover, as there's always drama in some form, whether it's lots of goals, great goaltending, or nasty physical play. It never disappoints, and the first edition of this rivalry in the new arena will be something to behold. Myself and Steve Sabourin will have the call tonight at 7:30 for puck drop. Tune in to the pre-game show just after 7 on CKNX AM920 or on CKNX.ca. We hope you enjoy our final broadcast before we all break for family time during the holidays. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

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