The Listowel Cyclones were in a do-or-die situation on home ice tonight against a tough Waterloo Siskins squad, with a trip to the Cherrey Cup Final on the line against the waiting Elmira Sugar Kings.
The game didn't start off well for the hosts, as the Siskins got an early lead off of Winston Cestnick who's great individual effort sent the visitors ahead. Waterloo were controlling the Cyclones breakouts and cycling the puck behind the net of Max Wright, who had to turn away a number of great opportunities in the frame. Alex Lycett of the Siskins took the only penalty of the game, giving the Cyclones a man advantage that only saw them muster one shot.
The 2nd period was more positive for the hosts, as Brett Primeau tied the game just over 2 minutes in. But the Siskins took their lead right back, after Alex Potter sniped one from the point just over 6 minutes later. A crazy bounce aided the Cyclones 20 seconds later, as Keaton Willis scored on a seemingly harmless effort from centre ice that somehow eluded Brett Miller, who was amazing in net for the Siskins all series, and in this game especially. James Ranson would restore Waterloo's lead with a little over 5 minutes left in the middle frame, setting up a tense 3rd period scenario for the hometown Cyclones.
The 3rd was a battle, with Waterloo doing all they could to suffocate the Listowel offense.
Head coach Jason Brooks gave a snippet of what was being said on the bench.
"If you want this thing to last, if you want to keep this ride going, now is the time to step up," said Brooks to his players.
It worked up to a point, when finally at the midway mark, Brady Anderson tipped in a point shot by Miller, who stood on his head a number of times in the final period.
"I wasn't expecting the goal by Andy (Brady Anderson), a 20-year old who has been with me for four years," said Brooks. "It was a big goal for us, a big goal for him to get us even. And then our call up, Trent Verbeek, whacks it into the open cage to give us a lead. And all of a sudden on the bench you feel like, we might just pull this off."
With just over 4 minutes left, Trent Verbeek, a midget call up from the Grey-Bruce Highlanders organization, found the open net after hitting the post on a rush. His teammates mobbing him as the referee emphatically pointed to the net indicating a goal.
After that, Waterloo pulled their goalie and made a furious, but ultimately futile push, as they exit the playoffs, hopefully with their heads held high. Todd Hoffman's men pushed the first place team to the absolute brink, and could have easily been the victors with a bounce here or there.
After the game, team co-captain and line mate Caleb Warren talked about Verbeek's contribution.
"He doesn't skip a beat, this room is so proud of him and so happy for him," said Warren after the game. "If you watch him out there he can be the fastest guy on the ice."
As for the mindset going into the third, Warren says they had to dig deep.
"The thing we went forward with into the third period was no doubt," added Warren. "We worked to be the hardest working team, attention to detail, you know, and it pays off in the end."
Listowel now faces their bitter Hw. 86 rivals in a rematch of last year's final. Elmira and Listowel are expected to kick off the Cherrey Cup championship final Friday in Listowel with Game 2 back in Elmira on Sunday.
Times are to be determined soon.