The Listowel Cyclones are a junior ice hockey team based in Listowel, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. They currently play at the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex.
History and The Early Years
The Listowel Cyclones were named after famous local professional hockey player Fred "Cyclone" Taylor.
Founded in 1972, the team started out in the Central Junior C Hockey League, but moved up to Midwestern "B" in 1979. The team had horrible results in the '80s, sometimes going for months without a single victory. The '90s were decent to the Cyclones, but by 1999 the team fell into some bad years. The Cyclones had their coming out party in 2005 though, winning the league championship for the first time in history to earn the right to compete for the Sutherland Cup, another team first.
Despite never truly being a contender, the team has had moments of greatness and weakness. On one hand, the Cyclones hold the record for the worst defeat in Mid-Western "B" history: a 23–3 loss to the Waterloo Siskins on December 11, 1983. On the other hand, the team came out of nowhere to win the league title in 2005. Another record they set that year, as the 7th seed in the playoffs, was the lowest entry seed in league history to win the championship. Listowel came in third in the Sutherland Cup Round Robin, losing out to the Chatham Maroons and the eventual champion Thorold Blackhawks.
The Modern Years
After a franchise best of 33 wins in 2015–2016 (this record was broken the following year in the 2016-2017 season), the Listowel Cyclones were swept 4–0 by the 6th seed Waterloo Siskins in the GOJHL playoffs. Waterloo went on to upset the Kitchener Dutchmen in the second round but lost in the final of the Cherrey Cup to the Stratford Cullitons.
The 2016–2017 roster was composed of several returning players and OHL training camps invitees including Jackob Lee (11th round, Guelph Storm), Holdyn Lansink (12th round, Erie Otters), Brock Baier (10th round, Windsor Spitfires), Chet Phillips (4th round, Saginaw Spirit), Brendan Cederberg (11th round, Peterborough Petes) and Ben Derrough (Owen Sound Attack). The key losses for the team this year is last year's starting goalie Tyler Fassl and their leading scorer from last year Jamie Huber. Tyler Fassl has moved on to the OJHL's Trenton Goldenhawks, defensemen Kade Landry is now with the OHL's Barrie Colts, Jordan Caskenette is with Walkerton Hawks (Jr.C), defensemen Scott Pederson is now playing in the CIS for Laurentian University and 2015-2016 leading scorer Jamie Huber has moved on to the Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL. Other notable losses from the 2015-2016 team that were key players in Listowel's record winning season include Tim Nauta, Ben Shelley, Ray McFalls, Corey Flemington and Austin Huizenga. The 2016–2017 team co-captains are veteran locals Caleb Warren and Blake Nichol. The team will also have alternating away and home assistant captains. Alternate captains include Riley Robertson, Keaton Willis, Brady Anderson and Holdyn Lansink. Midway through the season, the team added former Cyclone Ben VanOotegham from the Pembroke Lumberkings of the CCHL. VanOotegham previously played for the Listowel Cyclones in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons. Halfway through the 2016-2017 GOJHL season the Cyclones were in 1st place in the Midwestern division and look to break last year's franchise win record with a 20–2–2 start. On December 8, 2016, last year's leading scorer Jamie Huber returned from the BCHL to rejoin the team in their record setting season. Along with Huber, the Cyclones added more offensive power by welcoming 3 year OHL veteran and Exeter native Cullen Mercer to the line up on Jan 7th, 2017.
The Listowel Cyclones began the 2017- 2018 season playing at the Listowel Memorial Arena. On Saturday December 9, 2017, the Cyclones played their first game in the new Steve Kerr Memorial Complex against the Statford Warriors. They defeated the Stratford Warriors 7-2 in front of 1,503 fans. Jakob Lee scored the first goal in the new building at 5:18 of the 1st period.