Waterloo Siskins forward Sam Cherry and defenseman Alex Cimino celebrate Alex Lycett's second period goal in Game 4 against the Niagara Falls Canucks.

Waterloo Siskins lead Sutherland Cup semis 3-2 over Niagara Falls

The stranglehold that was the Waterloo Siskins' 3-0 series lead over the Niagara Falls Canucks in the Sutherland Cup semi-finals has loosened due to back-to-back wins by the Canucks. After staving off elimination with a narrow 4-3 victory in Waterloo on Thursday night, Niagara Falls used home ice on Friday to climb back within one win of the Siskins. 

Machus Turner got the start in goal for Waterloo with Matt Onuska leaving Game 4 midway through the game with a leg injury. Turner was solid in the first period stopping all 11 shots he faced, but Waterloo could not find the ice breaker. The Canucks opened the scoring five minutes into the second frame on a goal from Ryan Donovan, then doubled their lead four minutes later. Waterloo found a quick answer thanks to Dominick DiPonio scoring while the teams were at 4-on-4, but the Canucks regained their two-goal advantage with a shorthanded tally 68 seconds later. After Brett Schaefer brought the Siskins to within one again, Niagara Falls provided a  dagger with 22 seconds left in the period. Patrick McCabe snuck one by Turner and the Canucks led 4-2 after the second. The teams traded two goals each in the third period, with a late Siskins rally being extinguished by a Canucks empty net goal, and Niagara held on for a 6-4 victory.

The Siskins will try to win the series for the third time at 1:30 pm tomorrow afternoon at The Rec Complex in Waterloo. If the Canucks are victorious, Game 7 will go Monday night in Niagara Falls.

Listowel Cyclones fall in Game 6, eliminated by London in Sutherland Cup semis

Trailing the London Nationals 3-2 in their Sutherland Cup semi-final series, the Listowel Cyclones returned home facing elimination in Game 6. The Cyclones came out completely flat in the do-or-die game, being outshot by London 16-5 in the opening period.

Listowel was able to open the scoring though, as Brayden Krieger scored on a powerplay at the 12-minute mark of the first, with assists going to Holdyn Lansink and Jonah White. The lead was short lived, as Riley McRae beat Evan Morrison from a sharp angle four minutes later to tie the game for London. The second period began far more promising for Listowel, but the Nationals struck on a powerplay midway through it to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. That set up a decisive third period that began with back-to-back Cyclones penalties. The penalty kill was successful both times, giving the offence a chance to tie the game. Listowel's best chance came 11-and-a-half minutes in when London's James Turner was called for a facemask as the puck bounced around the Nationals crease, giving Chayse Herrfort a penalty shot. Herrfort moved in, deked to his left but lost the puck as Nats goalie Zach Springer shot out his right pad. Minutes later, Herrfort came within inches of tying the game again on a 5-on-3, ringing a slapshot off the crossbar with Springer out of position. That's as close as Listowel would come to finding the equalizer, and McRae scored into an empty net with a second left in the game to seal it for London, 3-1. 

The Nationals win the series, 4-2, and the Cyclones will not defend their Sutherland Cup title from last season. London now awaits the winner of the Waterloo-Niagara Falls series to play for the provincial title. 

Titans tip off against St. John's in NBL semi-finals

The National Basketball League semi-final series begins tonight in St. John's with the Edge hosting the K-W Titans.

The Titans, who snuck into the playoffs in the final weekend of the regular season, upset the first-place London Lightning in the first round, while St. John's defeated Sudbury in its first round series. K-W beat St. John's in two of their three meetings during the regular season.

Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven series are in St. John's tonight and Monday night, while the series shifts to Kitchener next Friday and Sunday.