The Listowel Cyclones missed an opportunity to close out the GOJHL Conference Semi-Final Sunday afternoon.
Waterloo was able to hold on to a 2-1 win to knot the series 3-3.
In classic road game style, Listowel stuck to the basics in the first period and did not attempt anything too flashy. Waterloo took a bit to get going but had the better chances of the two teams near the end of the first and ended up outshooting Listowel 14-11.
Listowel would score first. A quick puck moving power play led to a goal by Cullen Mercer on a rebound right in front of the Waterloo net. That was at 11:03 of the second period. But the lead did not last long. The hot stick of Sam Spaedt tied things up just minutes later at the 14:12 mark. It was Spaedt's third goal in two games, having scored both Waterloo goals in Game 5.
The third period started like the first, both teams watching carefully trying to find a hole but not doing anything extravagant. Then what seemed to look like a harmless play turned into anything but.
Waterloo left-handed forward, Curtis Rawn, picked up a loose puck in the Listowel zone skated to the high slot and snapped a low shot on the glove side with no traffic in front and it made it through to give Waterloo the one goal lead.
Despite late pressure by the Cyclones, they were unable to find the tying goal even with the extra attack on the ice late in the period.
Listowel out shot Waterloo in the game 37-29. The Cyclones 1-3 on the power play and Waterloo 0-1.
That sets up Game 7 in Listowel Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex.
The game will be broadcast on CKNX.
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For the second consecutive year, the Elmira Sugar Kings will be in the Cherrey Cup.
Ethan Skinner scored 1:39 into overtime to lift his team over the Stratford Warriors 3-2 to clinch the semi-final in six games.
The Warriors had taken the lead 1:55 into the first period on a goal from Ryan Nicholson. The team's exchanged goals in the second, then Elmira tied it 53 seconds into the third on a goal from Sean Ross on the power play.
Elmira came into the playoffs as the third seed in the Midwest, 18 points behind the second place Warriors.
The overtime goal was Skinner's eighth of the playoffs and he leads the team in scoring with 17 points. He led the team in the regular season too, with 61.
