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.
Welcome to 2018, and another great year of OHA hockey. The GOJHL kicked back into action this week, and the Listowel Cyclones are ready to get their dominant season back underway tonight against the Guelph Hurricanes. Head Coach Jason Brooks says he wants the players to retain and double down on their focus from the first half, and get back on track after a tough 3-1 loss to Elmira before the break.
Listowel continues to ride high in all 3 zones. It's consistently harder to find more ways to describe how complete this team is. Up front, the depth of scoring continues to be easily the deepest in the Midwest. Not many teams in the entire league can challenge a roster with Lansink, Mercer, Lee, Herrfort, Deelstra, etc., etc. Speaking of Mercer, he will not be in the lineup tonight as Jason Brooks confirmed the team wants to continue to monitor the neck injury that's kept him out nearly a month now, and ensure when he does throw a jersey back on, he's at no less than 100 percent.
Defensively, Max Coyle continues to set the tone, leading the team in points from the back end, and ice-time as well on many occasions. He's as sure a defender in all 3 zones as a coach can ask for, and is well supported by Keaton Willis, Danny Skinner, Brenden Clayton, and youngsters like Jagger O'Toole. It still baffles to look at Listowel's defensive record. For all the scoring they can do, to only have allowed 69 goals at this point is outrageous. That's 2nd best in the whole GOJHL to Caledonia's 64. The next best in the division? Stratford. At 106. Jason Brooks and his staff should take a bow at the end of the season, because these numbers aren't seen often.
In goal, Max Wright keeps carrying and delivering the mail. There's not many pucks he can't get to, and he often makes saves look routine and harmless. His 18 wins are tied for 2nd best in the entire league, and his 2.15 GAA is 4th best. You can't ask for better performance from your starter, and he gets the job done every time.
Guelph have had an up-and-down season trying to keep pace the with more elite teams in the Midwest. They sit 2nd last with 23 points, just 3 up on Brantford, but are only 6 points back of 5th, where the Kitchener Dutchman sit. But it's fair to say this team is in a transitional phase. Up front, they're led by Anthony Mota's 29 points, With Tyler Harrison their only other 20 point scorer with 23. The Hurricanes are full of younger players trying to round out their games at this level, and they'll have a tough time scoring on the stingiest D in the division in Listowel tonight.
On the back end, Guelph leans on Mason Sinkeldam and Brett Hunter, who have 7 and 6 points respectively, and play a bulk of the minutes for the Hurricanes. Young Payton McLeish is progressing nicely, as the Hurricanes continue to try and vet in their young D-core into the league. It may be a trial by fire scenario against an explosive offense in Listowel, as the Cyclones will throw out skilled players on every trio to test this young group. It will be key for Guelph to try and bend, not break.
In goal, Guelph has relied on Jet Greaves, who has put up very good numbers in a tough situation. Greaves has started 24 contests, and has just 7 wins, but despite a barrage of shots and chances each night, he boasts a respectable .896 save percentage. His 3.51 GAA looks inflated, but on a team with a more tight D, those numbers would both rise significantly, as he's shown a good ability to control rebounds and keep games respectable. He's backed up by Trenton McGrail, who in 13 appearances has 2 wins, and an impressive 2.90 GAA and .898 save percentage. The problem is hardly in goal for Guelph, and one of these two will get a workload tonight against the Cyclones.
It sure is nice to have the GOJHL back here on Cherrey Buslines OHA Hockey at CKNX. Game time is 7:30, with pre-game just after 7. Steve Sabourin and Scott Bridge will call the action. Happy New Year!
