The Listowel Cyclones have once again clinched 1st place in the GOJHL Midwest.
While it wasn't a complete stroll like last year's record breaking 88 points, finishing with 70 in the tight top half of the division is impressive nonetheless, particularly with all the roster turnover this team had. 9 rookies played roles for the Cyclones this year. It speaks to the culture, coaching staff and remaining leaders who stuck it out for another grueling regular season. The two big leaders of course, Holdyn Lansink and Chayse Herrfort, both had milestone seasons.
Lansink, who is now the all time leader in Cyclones career points with 290, earned 111 of those this year with a remarkable MVP-worthy campaign. Lansink had 46 goals, a team high, and a whopping 65 assists, also leading the team, and he finished 7 points back of Niagara's Justin, who played in a weaker division. Lansink also now has the highest points-per-game mark in Cyclones history among players who have played at least 100 games at 1.495. He has 120 goals and 170 assists for his Cycs career.
Herrfort, meanwhile, turned in another excellent season, this his 5th year with the team. Due to his longevity, high skill level and internal will to always play and show up, he managed to break former Cyclones captain Ben Shelley's recrod for games played, passing the record of 237 earlier this month. Herrfort now sits at 244 career games with the franchise, amassing 268 points, good for a 1.098 points-per-game. Chayse finished third in team scoring this season with 83 points, one back of brilliant rookie Brayden Krieger. His 38 goals were good for second behind Lansink's 46. Lansink and Herrfort, with 38 goals, finished one-two atop the entire GOJHL goal charts.
Now to Krieger. The youngster had the pleasure of playing between the Cyclone's two best players maybe ever, and he reaped the rewards, but not because he didn't earn them. As the centre on the Cyclones top line, Krieger sometimes took over games himself and set the tone early and often and gave Lansink and Herrfort the space they needed to do damage. Krieger finished second in team scoring with 84 points and should be the runaway rookie of the year on the GOJHL. While Krieger did play with two high end wingers, he simply wiped the floor in rookie scoring, his 84 points being 32 better than Niagara's Justin Randhawa at 52.
The Cyclones clinched first with two big home wins this past weekend, first dispatching the rival Sugar Kings 4-1 Friday night, and then demolishing Brantford 5-0 yesterday. They will once again face the Brampton Bombers in the first round, with the schedule soon to be released.