After a season that saw plenty of new young talent come into the fold, the Listowel Cyclones are ready to take the next step this year.
Head Coach and GM Jesse Cole says training camp this year was as competitive as he's ever seen, and he's hoping that a mix of returning talent and some high end new blood will vault the Cyclones back up the Midwest Conference standings following a 6th place finish last year. It's not likely that last year's leading scorer, Jaden Goldie (52 points) will return, as he's stateside trying out for a high level junior team and Coach Cole feels it's likely he will make it. If for some reason he wanted to come back to the GOJHL, Listowel would certainly welcome his blazing speed and shot. Also out of the mix is defender Cam Angst, who joined the Jr. C Hanover Barons in the offseason. However, the additions to the team are hopefully going to propel the Cyclones up the standings, with a ton of speed and skill injected into the mix.
Up front, Coach Cole is excited about the game of the returning Carter Coombs, who had 15 points in the regular season last year, but started taking more physical initiative leading into the playoffs and became a consistent threat in front of the net. Cole believes he can take a big step forward and be a net front option on power plays. Travis Verbeek, who was second on the team with 46 points last year, is always a threat off the rush. Youngsters from last year like Curtis Arnold (8 points), Tanner Dietz (44 points), and Chet Hudson (24 points) will all return and add to the depth of this team. New additions include reigning PJHL Pollock Division Rookie of the Year, Alex McGillivray, who led the Hanover Barons in goalscoring last year with 18, scoring 34 points along the way. His sniping ability will add much needed pop to an offence that couldn't always bury chances last year, even though the team out-chanced opponents on a nightly basis due to their speed.
Another scary addition up front comes via a trade with the Ayr Centennials, in 6'3" Patrick Brown. He had 28 points last year and is a bulldozer on the forecheck, and his hands in tight to the crease will surely find many a loose puck to pot into the net. Youngster Owen Shore, a product of the Huron-Perth Lakers who played for the Waterloo Wolves last year, also comes highly touted, with slick hands and high hockey IQ. Scoring goals should come easier to the Cyclones this season, their number one area to improve on from 2021-22.
On the blue line, Listowel will be pleased to welcome back Teegan Middleton, who became a reliable presence as a rookie last year when he got into the lineup following an injury that kept him out until October. Jordan Alexander also returns, alongside Carter Coates and Kian Harron, a player Coach Cole thinks can become an elite defensive player. Cole says Harron showed up to camp looking like a 19-year-old, not the 17-year-old that he is, and he will get the chance to play big minutes shutting down other team's better players. Young Caleb Mayer is also back, along with Danny Scott, who will be one of the more veteran voices on the blue line for the coaching staff.
Added into the mix is a very exciting player out of the Elmira camp, as Luke Eurig's little brother, Mason, was acquired by the Cyclones. Playing defence rather than his brother's preferred forward, Mason looks like a spitting image of Luke, just on the back end. Same slick, explosive stride, same gifted hands and same drive to be dangerous every shift. He could become a big star for the Cyclones and he will be given every opportunity to run the top power play and unleash wicked one timers on goalies. Ryder Livermore, who played big minutes for the Jr. C Exeter Hawks last year, is also joining the mix, and he also fits a puck rushing, power play quarterback mould, and he should help the offence get more pucks on net, as well.
In net, there are now potential question marks, as starter Dixon Grimes is being given a very good opportunity to make a Guelph Storm squad in need of a goalie. Owen Bennett informed Guelph he didn't wish to return this year, leaving a vacancy in the Royal City next to young Jacob Oster. Will the Storm run with two young goalies in Oster and Grimes, or will they go acquire a veteran to push Oster? That remains to be seen, but in the event Grimes returns, he will provide nothing but stability. A southpaw goalie, Grimes at times saw a lot of rubber last year behind a very young D core, but he always kept battling, even on nights when the game wasn't going Listowel's way. Despite those team struggles, Grimes had a sparkling stat line. A 2.72 GAA with a .917 save percentage with 2 shutouts. He played in 23 games, and made 683 saves, averaging nearly 30 stops a night. His backup, Carter McDougall, was very solid as a rookie, posting a 3.52 GAA, a .906 save percentage and one shutout. He would be the default starter should Grimes stick in Guelph, and Listowel has had rookie goalies Riley Arts and Derek Hartley get some preseason action, so they have options should Grimes be called into consistent OHL duty.
The Cyclones have certainly added a ton of skill, speed, and scoring ability, something they sorely lacked last year. If they can continue improving in their own zone, and score more goals when they create chances with their speed, they should be in great shape to finish higher than last year's 6th place finish. Joining Cole in the coaching ranks this year are the returning Trent McClement and Zach Coulter, and Tyler Crawford will be in the mix alongside longtime OHLer Adam Bignell, who played parts of 5 years with OHL Belleville, including captaining that team in 2013-14 before a lengthy CIS/USport career. His experience and ability to relate to the grind of junior hockey will be invaluable.
For more on the upcoming Listowel Cyclones season, here is the full length interview with Head Coach/GM, Jesse Cole:
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Head Coach Jesse Cole holds court at a Listowel Cyclones preseason practice for the 2022-23 season. (Photo by Ryan Drury)