LISTOWEL – It was a game that nearly didn’t happen at all due to scheduling issues with the officiating crew, but the Listowel Cyclones and Elmira Sugar Kings did ultimately wind up playing their final matchup of the GOJHL preseason on Sept. 17.
Delayed over an hour, the two clubs finally took to the ice where Elmira doubled up Listowel 4-2 at the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex. The two clubs also met in exhibition play on Sept. 12, with the Cyclones taking their sole win of the preseason via a 6-5 decision in overtime.
The Sugar Kings staked themselves to a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes before the Cyclones responded with a pair of goals in the third to cut the deficit to 3-2. Jackson Phillips (1) and Chet Hudson (3) tallied for Listowel before Elmira’s Luke Eurig sealed the win with an empty netter at 18:59.
Sugar Kings veteran forward Kurtis Goodwin led all skaters with a goal and two assists. Carter Coates, Travis Verbeek, Cam Angst and Jaden Goldie all had single assists for Listowel.
A defensively-focused matchup, Listowel and Elmira were held to 15 and 13 shots, respectively. Sugar Kings netminder Matthew Lunghi stopped 13 shots for the win, while Listowel’s Carter McDougall made 10 saves.
The Cyclones wrapped their 2021 preseason schedule with a 1-1-0-2 record.
Listowel travels to Stratford’s Allman Arena to open its 2021-22 GOJHL regular season against the Warriors this Friday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. The Cyclones then return home on Sunday, Sept. 26 for their home opener against the off-season relocated Caledon Bombers. Game time is 1:30 p.m. at the Kerr Complex.
