The official poster of Listowel Cyclones vs. Jundgadler Mannheim U20, taking place next Saturday in Listowel.

Listowel welcomes Jundgadler Mannheim U20 to play Cyclones

The reigning Sutherland Cup Champion Listowel Cyclones will play host to a unique event next Saturday night, as the Jundgadler Mannheim Under-20 team will be welcomed from Germany to face off against the Cycs. 

Mannheim plays in the DNL, which translates to the German Development League, and is also the reigning champion of its home league, winning the U20 championship last season and currently leading the DNL by 15 points. Like the GOJHL, players in the DNL have birthdates that range from 1998 to 2002 and are eligible to earn scholarships to North America schools, or be selected in the OHL or NHL Draft. In fact, Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl played his junior hockey with Mannheim before graduating to the German Elite League and eventually being drafted by the Oilers. 

There is one player of Canadian descent on Mannheim, as 6'6" forward Pierre-Christof Ascherl was born in Toronto before moving to Germany to play his junior hockey. Ascherl is 18 years old and played last season briefly with the Mississauga Rebels Midget program.

As for the Cyclones, they currently sit two points behind the Waterloo Siskins for first place in the GOJHL's Midwest, and forward Holdyn Lansink has kept pace in the GOJHL scoring race trailing Niagara Falls' Justin Kyle by just one point. 

The game takes place next Saturday, January 19th at Steve Kerr Memorial Complex in Listowel, with tickets being priced at $10 for adults and $8 for students, children and seniors. Tickets for kids under 12 that are wearing a minor hockey jersey will be $5. 

Before the Cycs host Mannheim, though, there is a full slate of local GOJHL this weekend, beginning with Listowel welcoming the Kitchener Dutchmen tonight and the Elmira Sugar Kings visiting the Stratford Warriors, with both games starting at 7:30 pm.