Stratford Warriors goalie Zack Weir makes a save as Waterloo Siskins forward Alex Lycett looks for a rebound. (Photo by FS Fotos)

Warriors even series with Siskins, Cyclones push Dutchmen to brink 

The Stratford Warriors were on the mat after dropping the first two games of their Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League second-round series with the Waterloo Siskins. Since then, they have regained their footing and dealt Waterloo two blows of their own, winning back to back games and evening the best-of-seven series at two. After winning game three on home ice, the Warriors traveled to Waterloo on Wednesday night looking for the equalizing win. 

For the second straight game, Machus Turner started in goal for the Siskins after rookie Matt Onuska left game two early in the third period. He has not returned to the Waterloo bench since. Zack Weir got the nod in goal for the Warriors once again having been pulled in game two but returning to form in a 6-3 win last game. Weir has started every game for Stratford this postseason, and he was solid again in this one. The Warriors struck first in game four with Sean Ross scoring eight and a half minutes in off a feed from Kameron Shearer, and Clayton Lewis scored just over a minute later to quiet the crowd of nearly 900 in the Waterloo Rec Complex. Stratford outshot Waterloo 13-8 in the opening frame and took a 2-0 lead into the second. Corson Seales extended Stratford’s lead to three midway through the second period, but Waterloo responded two minutes later as Michigan native Blake Petterle notched his second of the series to get the Siskins on the board. After Ryan Cullen brought it to 4-1 Warriors early in the third, the Siskins made it interesting with an Alex Tiley powerplay marker followed quickly by Alex Cimino cutting the lead to one with eight minutes left. Weir stood tall the rest of the way though stopping 26 shots in total, and Stratford hung on for the 4-3 win. Turned stopped 30 shots for Waterloo. 

The Warriors head home to Allman Arena with all the momentum looking to take their first lead of the series with game five going tonight at 7:30 pm. The series, now tied 2-2, has become a best-of-three, with the loser tonight facing elimination on Sunday afternoon in Waterloo. If necessary, game seven is Monday night in Stratford. 

In the other semi-final series, Listowel has looked like its first-place self, beating Kitchener 6-1 in the opener and 2-1 in game two. Returning home to Steve Kerr Arena in Listowel on Tuesday, the Cycs had a chance to take a stranglehold. The Dutchmen came out like a team facing elimination, outshooting Listowel 14-4 in the first period but the game remained scoreless. In fact, the game remained scoreless throughout a highly entertaining 60 minutes in which both goalies were the story, and game three was headed to overtime. In the extra period, Kitchener got the first good chance to end it when Brendan Koops took a high sticking penalty for Listowel, but the Dutchies powerplay could not convert. The game would be decided in the dying minutes of the first overtime though, as Drayton Duckett, who had been snake-bitten all game, corralled a bouncing puck at his own blueline, moved in on a partial breakaway 

and snapped home the winner blocker side on Evan Morrison. Lucas Patton earned the shutout with 22 saves for Kitchener, including five in overtime, while Morrison stopped 32 for Listowel. 

Game four was back in Kitchener on Wednesday night and the home side opened the scoring, as Kyle Kennery took a feed from Sean Kawalec and scored with just under three minutes to play in the first. Trent Verbeek tied the game early in the second, and the teams traded powerplay goals to keep the deadlock heading into the third period. Chris Taylor scored for Kitchener and Luke Israel converted for Listowel. Needing to win a period to tie the series, Kitchener came out completely flat in the third, unable to score on an early 5-on-3 opportunity, which opened the door for Listowel’s top scorers to have an impact. Holdyn Lansink broke the tie eight minutes into the period with linemates Chayse Herrfort and Brayden Krieger earning assists, and then it all fell apart for Kitchener within a two minute span. Down a goal, the Dutchmen took two quick penalties putting Listowel on a 5-on-3 with seven minutes to play, and Israel was quick to score his second of the game to bring the lead to 4-2. After Krieger took a penalty 50 seconds later to even the teams at 4-on-4, Herrfort danced through the defense and scored during a delayed penalty to make it 5-2 Listowel. On the ensuing powerplay, Herrfort got his eighth goal of the postseason and Listowel pulled away for a 6-2 victory. The top line of Herrfort, Lansink and Krieger has now combined for 36 points in Listowel’s eight playoff games. 

The teams will meet again tonight night in Listowel with the Cyclones leading 3-1 and able to close out the series with a win. Kitchener will need its best effort of the season in what they hope will be the first of three straight must-win games. Puck drop is 7:30 pm at Steve Kerr Arena. If necessary, game six goes Sunday afternoon in Kitchener and game seven Monday night in Listowel.