The Waterloo Siskins are the 2018-2019 Cherrey Cup Champions. (Photo by Censational Photography)

Siskins beat Cyclones in Game 6 to capture Cherrey Cup

The Waterloo Siskins are your new Cherrey Cup champions. The Siskins defeated the two-time reigning champ Listowel Cyclones in the sixth game of their best-of-seven series on Sunday afternoon in Waterloo by a score of 5-2. It is Waterloo's first Cherrey Cup title since the 2013-2014 season. They will now represent the Midwestern Conference in the Sutherland Cup semi-finals.

The Siskins jumped out to a dream start on Sunday, with playoff sniper Sam Spaedt opening the scoring five minutes into the game. Sam Cherry added another ten minutes later, and Siskins captain Alex Cimino made it 3-0 with a powerplay goal late in the first period to put Listowel on the ropes. The home side extended its lead to 4-0 midway through the second period as Cherry got his second of the afternoon on another Siskins powerplay, with the helpers going to Spaedt and Alex Lycett. With two and a half minutes left in the period, shortly after killing off a huge five-on-three, the Siskins had a chance to put the game out of reach on a penalty shot, but Listowel goaltender Evan Morrison came up with a blocker save on Owen Lane to hold his team's deficit at four. Brayden Krieger cut the lead in half with two goals midway through the third period, both of which were assisted by Holdyn Lansink and Chayse Herrfort. Listowel made a significant push in the late stages of the game, but big saves from Waterloo's rookie goaltender, Matt Onuska, and an empty net goal from Lane sealed the win for the Siskins. As the clock ran out, the party was on as Siskins players and coaches poured onto the ice to mob Onuska and celebrate the Midwestern Conference title. Onuska made 26 saves in the win, while Waterloo's top line of Spaedt, Cherry and Lycett combined for seven points. 

The Siskins now advance to the Sutherland Cup semi-finals, a seven game series against the Niagara Falls Canucks beginning this Friday in Niagara Falls. Despite the loss, Listowel will still have an opportunity to defend its Sutherland Cup title. Thanks to their sweep of Brampton in the first round and five-game series win over Kitchener last round, the Cyclones qualify for the Sutherland Cup as the wild card, which is the GOJHL team with the best playoff winning percentage that did not win its Conference. Listowel will take on the London Nationals in the other semi-final series, beginning Wednesday night in London. It will be a rematch of last year's Sutherland Cup semis, where Listowel defeated London in six games, then went on to sweep Caledonia to win the provincial title.