The Waterloo Siskins celebrate an overtime win over the weekend at the Waterloo Memorial Rec Complex. (Photo courtesy of FS Fotos)

Siskins enjoy three-win weekend while Cyclones taste defeat for first time in weeks

Much has been made of the jostling for position atop the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League's Midwest Division lately, and this past weekend provided more key moments. The Waterloo Siskins have felt the cruelty of the GOJHL's parity as of late, dropping five straight games after winning seven in a row. Meanwhile, the Listowel Cyclones had reeled off 11 consecutive wins of their own, catapulting into first place. Between them stood Stratford and Elmira, while Kitchener nipped at their heels to squeeze into the top four. Every Midwest team save for Cambridge was in action this weekend, with important points to go around.

Friday night featured the two teams heading in opposite directions, Waterloo and Listowel, on the road to take on Brampton and Stratford, respectively. The Bombers were a sight for sore Siskin eyes, as Waterloo poured 21 shots on the Brampton goal in the first period alone, resulting in a 3-2 lead. The Siskins added two more goals in the second frame to seal the win, 5-2. Owen Lane led the way for Waterloo with two goals and two assists. Over in Stratford, another streak would end. The Warriors stormed back from a 3-1 deficit early in the second period, using two power-play goals to tie the game before scoring three unanswered in the third to hand Listowel its first loss in twelve games, 6-3. Sean Ross scored twice for the Warriors and added an assist, while Tyler Parr made 29 saves in the win.

Both Waterloo and Listowel were in action again on Saturday night, with Waterloo visiting Brantford and Kitchener hosting the Cyclones. Listowel did not waste any time starting a new winning streak, riding a three-point night from Holdyn Lansink to a 3-1 victory in Kitchener. Sean Kawalec had the lone goal for the Dutchies. In Brantford, the Siskins continued their resurrection by putting up 47 shots and scoring seven times on the way to a 7-4 win. Sam Spaedt and ALex Lycett each scored twice for Waterloo. The Siskins had a chance to sweep the weekend on Sunday afternoon when they welcomed the Dutchmen to the Rec Centre, looking for a key six points that would put them back into the league's top-3. It was Kitchener that came out flying, however, scoring twice in the first and once more midway through the second period, forcing Waterloo coach Todd Hoffman to replace starting goalie Machus Turner with rookie Matt Onuska. The move sparked the Siskins as Cherry got the home side on the board with 40 seconds left in the second, before Tyler Dam and Lycett scored power-play goals late in the third to tie the game. In the overtime period, Cherry fired his second of the day past Dutchies goalie Lucas Patton and gave Waterloo its third win in three days. Onuska finished with 19 saves in relief. 

With the three wins, Waterloo leapfrogs the Elmira Sugar Kings, who beat Brantford on Sunday night, 5-2, and moves into third place, just one point behind Stratford and two behind Listowel. The Midwest's bottom four teams are rounded out by Kitchener, Cambridge, Brantford and Brampton.