Siskins look to recapture magic in playoff run
WATERLOO — Those masters of the upset from a year ago, Jr. B hockey’s Waterloo Siskins, are hopeful they can do it again.
Last season, the Sisks ignited in the post-season, dismissing heavily-favoured Listowel and Kitchener in consecutive series, leaving nothing but broken hearts and shattered dreams in their wake.
This year, head coach Todd Hoffman, and his mostly-remade Siskins roster, have designs on a similar run.
After disposing of the Cambridge Winter Hawks in six games (winning four straight after dropping the first two by one goal each) in an openinground Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League series, the Siskins take aim at the conferenceleading Listowel Cyclones.
Their Mid-Western Conference semifinal series opens Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Listowel Memorial Arena.
And the fourth-place Siskins face a steep climb again.
This season’s version of the Cyclones is deeper and features more scoring punch than last season. Listowel is primed for a deep playoff push after putting the finishing touches to a firstplace regular-season finish and a franchise-record 40 wins in 50 regular-season games.
The Cyclones feature a constellation of stars including conference rookie of the year, goalie Brock Baier and his talented stablemate Justin Hergott; one of the loop’s top defensive forwards, Caleb Warren; conference all-stars, forward Holden Lansink and defenceman Keaton Willis.
The Siskins counter with white-hot forward Spencer Kersten who has registered a goal and 10 assists in six playoff games thus far, good for a share of fourth in the GOJHL playoffs.
Fellow Siskin Lucas Pozzobon has poured in seven goals and a pair of assists in six playoff matches so far.
Then, there is Waterloo’s goalie Andrew Albano, undefeated in four playoff starts with a 2.48 goals against average and a sizzling .940 save percentage after replacing the rock solid Liam Devine.
So, it might be argued the Siskins’ lineup, winners of seven of their last 10, just might be as dangerous as ever.
Through their regular-season meetings, the Cyclones hold a 4-2 (won-lost) record this season against Waterloo, outscoring the Siskins 28-21 in the process.
“It will take all 20 guys going to have success against Listowel,” said Hoffman. “So far, we’ve played very well top to bottom.”
The conference’s other semifinal pits the second-place Elmira Sugar Kings against the Kitchener Dutchmen, who finished third.
The Kings own a 4-2 record in six regular-season meetings with the Dutchies. Elmira has outscored Kitchener 22-17 in those head-to-head matchups.