Apr 2, 2019
The Waterloo Siskins regained home ice advantage Tuesday night at the Steve Kerr Memorial Arena in Listowel with an exciting 2-1 overtime win in front of 735 appreciative fans. Waterloo is now up 2-1 in the series, and two wins away from winning the CHERRY CUP!
The first period had all the elements of a championship prize fight-both teams were tentative not wanting to make a mistake. Waterloo outshot Listowel 10-7 in the period despite killing off two Listowel man advantages to Waterloo’s 1.
The second period featured a similar style of hockey with both Waterloo and Listowel playing with a high level of caution. Waterloo struck first at 1:41 of the second period when JOSEPH SERPA played a wide point shot off the dasher board banking the puck off the Cyclones goaltender for a 1-0 lead. Listowel tied the score on the power play when Brayden Kreiger scored at 17:54 of the period with OWEN LANE penalized for a hit from behind and ejected from the game. Both teams had two power plays in the period. Waterloo also had ALEX CIMINO ejected from the game for a check from behind penalty leaving Waterloo with two key players out for the third period. Waterloo again outshot Listowel in the period this time by 10 shots to 6.
There was a momentum shift in the third period favoring Listowel perhaps due to the diminished Waterloo roster. Siskins netminder MATT ONUSKA made a number of big saves to keep the score tied at 1-1 . Listowel outshot Waterloo 13-11 in the period. There were no penalties or scoring in the 3rd period leading to OT.
While Waterloo looked tired late in the 3rd period; in overtime the Siskins appeared to have been rejuvenated by some event while the Zamboni cleared the ice surface for the overtime period. Waterloo held a distinct edge in OT play – missing three glorious scoring chances by inches within the first 5 minutes. BENTON HAYES will be the unsung hero for Waterloo this night as his tenacious forechecking created a Cyclone turnover as their players were leaving the zone. Waterloo sniper ALEX LYCETT found himself with the puck and a lane to the net of Cyclone goalie Evan Morrison’s right. LYCETT, known for his shot, looked like he was going to release the puck freezing Morrison before making a “no look” pass right on the tape of BRETT SCHAEFER who was driving the net and left with a wide open cage to bury the game winner at 6:51 of the overtime period.
There was a bit of controversy at the end of the game as it seemed the Cyclone staff sent a player to retrieve the game winning puck from the net away from the Waterloo players. There was some interaction with the Siskins’ assistant captain and the referee surrounding the legality of this sportsmanship issue.
Game 4 of the series is back at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex Thursday night at 7:30. Come on out for some great entertainment value
