For the second game in a row, the Listowel Cyclones took an early lead in the game and never looked back.
The Cyclones won Game 2 of the Sutherland Cup against Caledonia 6-3 to take a 2-0 series lead.
Jakob Lee got things going, snapping a low hard shot by Caledonia's starter Pierce Charleson at the 4:11 mark.
Then the top line for the Cyclones tapped in two goals. The first started in the Listowel end as Ben VanOoteghem carried the puck deep into the Caledonia zone. He passed it off to Chase Herrfort who cut to the middle and made a back hand pass to Cullen Mercer who snapped it top shelf.
VanOoteghem says he saw an opening and decided to rush the puck.
"They back pressure pretty hard so I got the puck and took it back a little bit and looked up ice and everyone was standing flat footed," said VanOoteghem. "So I thought I would drive the skates, get my head up and see what opened up."
In the second period, Caledonia turned to Brandon McCorriston to take over in net. But at the 2:35 mark, Listowel's Tommy Hoogars grabbed a puck behind the net and wrapped it around for Listowel's fourth goal of the game.
Caledonia would get on the board courtesy of Jamey Lauzon when he picked off a clearing attempt at the Listowel blue line and snapped a goal.
But then Mercer and VanOoteghem scored just under four minutes apart to give Listowel a 6-1 lead. The sixth Listowel goal triggered another goaltender change for Caledonia, again going back to Charelson. Before the second period was over, Caledonia would score on the power play.
The only goal in the third period was scored by Caledonia, again off the stick of Lauzon, to make the final 6-3.
For the Cyclones it was a big win on home ice. For VanOoteghem it was a three point night.
"We wanted to be ready to match their intensity and I think we did a good job in doing that," said VanOoteghem. "It also helps when you have a packed barn to come out to."
It is a quick turn around for the teams, with Game 3 Saturday night in Caledonia at 7:30 p.m.
As for how much energy is left, VanOoteghem says it's the playoffs.
"It's the playoffs. They're going through the same thing and we just have to prepare."
You can listen to the game on Cherrey Buslines OHA Hockey on CKNX.
