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WATERLOO LOSES A TIGHT ONE TO LISTOWEL 3-2 SUNDAY AT HOME
Dec 9, 2018
The Waterloo Siskins went into the weekend tied for first place in the competitive Midwest conference of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. Sunday, Waterloo faced the Listowel Cyclones carrying a two win and one loss season record against the Cyclones into the afternoon tilt held at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex. Waterloo entered the weekend boasting a 17-6-2 record supported by the most potent offence in the Midwest conference-by a wide margin. Waterloo picked up 19 year old defensemen MICHAEL KEATING from the CCHL Junior “A” Rockland franchise for cash considerations earlier in the week to bolster their back end and improve their contention prospects.
The first period was scoreless despite Listowel firing 22 shots at the Waterloo net minder MATT ONUSKA (See Photo #2 of Dec 9, 2018 Album). Many of the scoring attempts were class “A” shots by the potent Listowel power play. Matt (a 16 year old Waterloo native) was the games second star suffering his first loss in his last 5 appearances.
Waterloo opened the scoring at 11:32 of the second period with MATT PRUCHA scoring a short- handed goal as Waterloo continued to have penalty problems (See Photo #1 of Dec 9, 2018 Album). The second period was a much better performance for Waterloo as they outshot Listowel 11-8.
The third period had the Waterloo penalty problem catch up with them. Cyclones scored a power play marker at 2:22 of the frame when CHAYSE HERRFORT tipped in a centering pass eluding the Waterloo net minder and breaking the young tenders shut out. Play went back and forth until 15:07 of the third frame when Waterloo missed a couple of clearing attempts and the puck ended up in the high slot for Cyclone’s TRENT VERBEEK who buried a “bar down” shot on Waterloo. Some might remember that TRENT was the AP from Listowel who scored the game 7 winner in the 2017-18 series that propelled Listowel on its way to the Sutherland Cup.
Waterloo attempted to press for a tying goal but turned the puck over at the Listowel Blue Line create an odd man rush for HOLDEN LANSINK who burned Waterloo on their miscue. Waterloo pulled their goalie for an extra attacked with less than two minutes remaining. SAM SPAEDT scored (See Photo #3 of Dec 9, 2018 Album) to bring Waterloo to within one goal but that was as close as Waterloo got and for a second straight meeting fell to Listowel 3-2 at home.
Saturday night Waterloo visited the Elmira Sugar Kings who have had Waterloo’s number for the last few seasons. Waterloo jumped to a 2-0 lead with goals from MATT PRUCA and SAM CHERRY back stopped by some excellent goaltending from MACHUS TURNER. Elmira responded with two goals of their own in the second period to put the game at 2-2 entering the third period. Elmira scored at the 14:26 mark of the third period and held off Waterloo’s late surge winning the game 3-2. The game was very even and showcased great goaltending on both ends.
Waterloo next home game is 1:30 Sunday at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex against the Cambridge RedHawks.
