Bombers over Cyclones 6-4 with empty netter
On Friday, December 18th / 2015, at Memorial Arena, the Listowel Cyclones were defeated by the 6th place Brampton Bombers by a score of 6 – 4. From the opening faceoff of this game, and for reasons unknown, the Cyclones threw out the winning script that they used in their previous 3 games, opting instead to undertake a run and gun style of play. Straying from the game plan of their previous successes proved costly as the Red, White and Black fell behind by a 5-1 count after 20 minutes of play. In the remainder of the game the squad battled back with 2 goals in the second period and another in the third period before the Bombers sealed their win with an empty net goal with 1:11 remaining in regulation time.
Brampton buried 2 quick goals behind Tyler Fassl before the Cyclones 4th line responded with some great hustle and hard work. Ray Mc Falls and Blake Pickering worked the puck behind the net before centering in front where Chayse Herrfort buried the puck high into the twine. The Cyclones worked furiously to tie the score, just missing by inches before Brampton turned away with the puck and scored two more quick goals and then another in the final minute of play in the first period.
Undaunted the Cyclones came out of the gate in the second period, charging hard to make an impact early on. As the Brampton Bombers attacked, the Cyclones countered as Eric Langridge and Keaton Willis sprung Jamie Huber loose with a lead pass out of the zone. Number 26 roared up ice and launched a long shot that was mishandled by the Brampton goaltender, leaving Huber with a big rebound to slide into the yawning cage. 33seconds later, Brady Anderson and Jamie Huber set up Keaton Willis who ripped a shot from inside the blue line, drawing the Cyclones within 2. The Cyclones had 3 power play chances handed to them in the remainder of the second period but failed to convert despite having set up several fantastic chances.
In the third period the Cyclones continued to press. The Bombers dug themselves into a potentially huge hole as they took 2 minor penalties early, but the Cyclones let them off the hook by taking an ill- advised penalty of their own. Nonetheless, Kade Landry slapped a puck through traffic and into the net to draw the Cyclones within one. Corey Flemington drew the assist on the play. The Cyclones continued to press and press to tie the score but all efforts were futile as Brampton scored their empty net goal to put the game out of reach with 1:11 remaining.
The final game stats totaled up as follows: Shots on Goal 42, Shots on goal against 28, 0 for 8 with the man advantage, 2 for 2 on the penalty kill, 14 minutes in penalties for Listowel and 16 penalty minutes for Brampton.
After 60 minutes of play, the Cyclonic Performers of the Game looked like this:
3 Points: Captain Ben Shelley #28 - The 5th year Cyclones forward played his 222nd career game in a Cyclones uniform, eclipsing the previous mark set by Perry Ohm. This momentous achievement was marked prior to the game with a ceremony at centre ice where Ben was congratulated by Perry Ohm and presented with a pair of commemorative awards from Cyclones General Manager Wayne Long and Cyclones Team President Don Annett.
2 Points: Chayse Herrfort #25 - The 2nd year Cyclones forward had one goal and played an energetic game for the Cyclones.
1 Point: Kade Landry #9 - The rookie blue liner scored once and persevered through the adversity presented to the Cyclones defensive corps during the first period of play.
The Cyclones record falls to 17 wins and 13 losses. Heading into the final weekend of action before the Christmas Holiday break, the Cyclones remain in 4th place in the GOJHL Midwest Conference, trailing 3rd place Guelph by 6 points. The Cyclones close out the 2015 portion of the regular season schedule with a Sunday 1:30 p.m. game in Waterloo at the Memorial Rec Complex, where they aim to just “Let It Go”!!!
The 2016 Cyclones BIG DRAW tickets are available….featuring 8 Cyclonic prizes…..with an added bonus of a January 10th early bird draw. Tickets are available from the players, parents, Cyclones executive and at the front table at every Cyclones home game. Get yours today!!! Make the trip to the rink in support of the Red, White & Black. Let’s Go Cyclones!!!!
