Listowel sweeps Caledonia in junior B final

The Ontario junior B championship will remain in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Midwestern Conference for at least another season.

That was made official Tuesday night in Listowel, where the host Cyclones defeated the Golden Horseshoe Conference champion Caledonia Corvairs 4-1, completing a sweep in the best-of-seven Sutherland Cup final.

Listowel clinched its first-ever Sutherland Cup title despite being outshot 33-23 by the Corvairs, who were seeking their fourth title in five years. Five-time defending Golden Horseshoe champion Caledonia finished the game 0-for-2 on the power play.

Listowel was 1-for-3 with the man advantage.

Cullen Mercer, Mitch Deelstra, even strength; Holdyn Lansink, power play; and Blake Nichol, empty net; scored for the Cyclones before an announced crowd of 1,282 at Steve Kerr Memorial Arena in Listowel.

Owen Lane replied for the Corvairs with a short-handed goal. Caledonia, which led the Golden Horseshoe and the 26-team league with a 45-4-0-1 record, advanced to the final by defeating the Fort Erie Meteors, 4-0; Niagara Falls Canucks, 4-1; and St. Catharines Falcons, 4-0; in the conference portion of the playoffs.

The Corvairs dethroned the reigning Sutherland Cup champion Elmira Sugar Kings four games to none in the league semifinals.