Cycs extend Tribe's winless streak to three

Pat Payton
Sports Editor

LISTOWEL - For several years now, there have been no easy games for opposing Jr. B teams here at the Listowel arena, with its small ice surface.

If teams want to take two points out of this rink, they’ll have to earn both of them.

That fact was once again emphasized this past Sunday afternoon as Cyclones’ goalie James Prigione kicked out 42 of 44 shots to lead his team to a 3-2 Midwestern Conference win over Stratford Cullitons in front of about 280 fans.

“Their goaltender played well, and it was a typical game in Listowel . . . they are tough in their building,” Cullitons coach Phil Westman reported. “They get in the shooting lanes well, and they’re a well-coached team.

“Cyclones had a six-point weekend, and anytime you win that third game of the weekend it’s certainly a credit to their team and their hard-work ethic. It was a well-deserved two points for them.”

Sunday’s loss, meanwhile, extended the Tribe’s winless streak to three games, and teams such as Waterloo Siskins (11-4), Listowel (10-6) and Cambridge Winterhawks (9-4-1) are starting to breathe down Stratford’s neck.

After weekend action, the second-place Cullitons (12-5) are just two points ahead of Waterloo, four up on Listowel, and only five ahead of the fifth-place Winterhawks.

The Tribe has also played two more games than first-place Brantford Golden Eagles (13-2) and Waterloo, and three more than Cambridge.

On Friday night at the Allman Arena, Guelph Hurricanes turned a solid, 60-minute effort into a 5-2 victory over the Cullitons in front of about 850 fans.

“We started off kind of flat, like we did in the Brantford game (Oct. 17),” captain Bucky Nelson pointed out. “But we had a pretty tough week at practice; five or six guys have had colds and flu-type symptoms.

“But it’s no excuse. The game kind of slipped away from us again.”

The Tribe watched its home-ice record slip to 6-2 with the defeat.

Listowel 3 - Stratford 2
In Listowel Sunday afternoon, Cullitons held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but Cyclones veteran Eric Deckers’ goal with 10:47 remaining in the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and it stood up as the winner.

The Tribe’s Steve McParland and Stratford native Chris Holmes traded first-period goals.
Rookie Brad McClure (with his 11th) gave Stratford its last lead just 40 seconds into the middle frame. Listowel’s Drew Davidson tied it less than five minutes later.

Overall, Stratford out-shot Listowel 44-35, including 19-14 in the second period. Cyclones’ James Prigione (7-2), who was selected first star, has won his last four starts. Cullitons netminder Cody Vinnai (4-3) was chosen second star.

Neither side connected with the man advantage, both going 0-for-5.

The Listowel win evens the season series at 1-1.

“We can’t make any excuses,” coach Westman said. “We have to buckle down and tighten up a little bit.

“I don’t want to use the sickness as an excuse because I pulled in a couple of (affiliate) players to play. Some of our guys had the flu, but it was also Listowel’s third game of the weekend.”

Guelph 5 - Stratford 2
At the Allman Friday night, the sixth-place Hurricanes took over the game in the second period.

They out-shot the Cullitons 12-6 in the frame, and broke a 1-1 deadlock with two unanswered goal – just over two minutes apart.

Kyle Wilhelm, with his 11th, closed the gap to 3-2 with 4:36 left in the third, but Tyson Theaker restored Guelph’s two-goal advantage with 3:08 to play.

Martin Kudla added an unassisted empty-netter with just 43 seconds left on the clock. Dan Mohle, with his 15th, Cayle Creen and Cam Jude also scored for the visitors.

“Guelph played well, and we played really poorly,” coach Westman said. “The flu bug may have been a factor in that one, but you have to be ready, and mentally prepared, for every game.

“I think sometimes, our guys’ heads get a little fat and I certainly respect all the opponents in our league. Anybody can beat anybody else, and that’s just the way our league is. You have to be ready to compete every single night.”

Mitch McIntosh fired the other Stratford goal. He replaced veteran Kurtis Bailey, sidelined with the flu, and scored his first as a Culliton. McIntosh, 16, is a member of the Huron-Perth ‘AAA’ Lakers Major Midgets.

Overall, the Tribe out-shot the Hurricanes 39-24. Evan Groenestege (8-2) took the loss.

Upcoming: Cullitons have just one game this weekend, hosting the last-place Kitchener Dutchmen (4-13-1) Friday at the Allman, starting at 7:30 p.m. It’s Stratford’s only game in an 11-day stretch.

The Tribe’s next game after that is Friday, Nov. 6 when Brantford comes to town.