By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photos: Censational Photography & Derek Berg Photography

OHA SUTHERLAND CUP: LONDON VS LISTOWEL SEMIFINAL PREVIEW
London Nationals (35-12-0-3) vs Listowel Cyclones (43-5-0-2)

The 2018 GOJHL OHA Sutherland Cup Semifinal Series between the London Nationals and Listowel Cyclones is a rematch of last year’s Sutherland Cup Semifinal, won by the Nationals in five games. This series gets underway on Wednesday, April 11 at 7:30 PM in London at the Western Fair Sports Centre. The winner advances to the 2018 OHA Sutherland Cup Finals against the winner of the other Semifinal Series between the Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs and Elmira Sugar Kings, also a rematch of last year’s series won in six games by the Sugar Kings.

London Nationals
The London Nationals finished the regular season in first place in the GOJHL Western Conference regular season with a record of 35-12-0-3. The Nats dispatched the Strathroy Rockets, Chatham Maroons and St. Thomas Stars in the playoffs in winning their third straight Western Conference Championship and hoisted the Bill Weir Trophy once again. In the regular season the Nationals were the top scoring team in the Western Conference (5th overall), averaging 4.34 goals per game. Defensively they were also the top team in their Conference with a goals against average of 2.42 (4th overall). 

The Nats roll four lines that contribute offensively but are led by a core group of forwards. Brandon Glover led the squad in the regular season with 65 points (18G, 47A) in 50 games and was one of 12 players with 10 or more goals on the season. Defenceman Jordan Di Cicco leads the attack from the blue line and was fifth in team scoring in the regular season with 39 points (12G, 27A) in 48 games. Through three rounds of playoffs it’s been team captain Brendan Trottier leading the way with 25 points (5G, 20A) in 14 games. 

The Nationals are extremely deep in goal with David Ovsjannikov and Zachary Springer splitting duties in the regular season. The pair led the Western Conference with the lowest goals against average as Ovsjannikov was 18-9-0 with 4 shutouts and 2.12 GAA and .915 SV%, while Springer was 16-4-0 with 3 shutouts and a 2.21 GAA and .917 SV%. Ovsjannikov has played every minute through 14 playoff games and has been outstanding, going 12-2 with 4 shutouts and a 1.49 GAA and .946 SV%.

On special teams, the Nationals had the best powerplay in the entire GOJHL in the regular season at 29.0% and are 26.0% so far in the playoffs. Their penalty killing was also strong in the regular season at 85.5%, good enough for 5th overall and in the playoffs they are killing penalties at a rate of 84.4%, tied for 7th best with Caledonia. 

Listowel Cyclones
The Listowel Cyclones had a dominant regular season in the GOJHL Midwestern Conference, repeating as regular season champions with a record of 43-5-0-2. Through three rounds of playoffs, the Cyclones have knocked off the Guelph Hurricanes, Waterloo Siskins and Elmira Sugar Kings to win their second straight Cherrey Cup as Midwestern Conference Champions. In the regular season the Cycs were the second highest scoring team in their Conference behind Stratford (3rd overall), scoring an average of 4.64 goals per game. The high scoring is nice, but the Cyclones are known as a strong defensive team and they were the second best in the entire GOJHL in the regular season, allowing only 2.00 goals against per game, behind only the Caledonia Corvairs. 

Up front the Cyclones’ offensive attack comes from veteran forwards Chayse Herrfort who had 70 points (29G, 41A) in 50 games, Holdyn Lansink with 67 points (29G, 38A) in 48 games, and Jakob Lee with 64 points (28G, 36A) in 46 games. Adding to their offense is Cullen Mercer who led the team with 30 goals and Mitch Deelstra who had 20 goals as five players scored more than 20 goals in the regular season. Max Coyle provides offense from the back-end as the blueliner added 50 points (6G, 44A) in 49 games, leading the team in assists. In the playoffs it’s been Mercer leading the way with 19 points (9G, 10A) in 15 games along with Herrfort’s 18 points, but Captain Caleb Warren has also stepped up with 17 points including 3 game winning goals.

Max Wright provided the Cyclones with exceptional goaltending in the regular season, winning 27 games in 31 games, going 27-4-0 with 2 shutouts and a 2.11 GAA and .926 SV%. Wright’s backup Evan Reinhart was more than capable in his 11 games, going 9-1-0 with 2 shutouts and a 1.64 GAA and .938 SV%. The Cyclones have two solid options in goal and it’s been Wright carrying the load so far in the playoffs, playing in 14 of the 15 games and going 11-3 with 4 shutouts and a 1.61 GAA and sparkling .945 SV%. 

On special teams, Listowel is strong and very balanced as they had the best powerplay in their Conference and 3rd best overall in the GOJHL at 24.2% in the regular season they’ve improved to 26.9% in the playoffs which is also 3rd best overall. Likewise, their penalty killing was best in their Conference at 86.4% which was 4th overall and in the playoffs they are killing penalties at a rate of 85.2% which is 6th best. 

THE TALE OF THE TAPE

HOW THEY GOT HERE
London:
- beat the Strathroy Rockets in 4 games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals
- beat the Chatham Maroons in 6 games in the Western Conference Semifinals
- beat the St. Thomas Stars in 4 games in the Western Conference Championship

Listowel:
- beat the Guelph Hurricanes in 4 games in the Midwestern Conference Quarterfinals
- beat the Waterloo Siskins in 7 games in the Midwestern Conference Semifinals
- beat the Elmira Sugar Kings in 4 games in the Midwestern Conference Championship

LEADING PLAYOFF SCORERS
London: 
1. Brenden Trottier 25 PTS (5G, 20A)
2. Carson Brookshaw 16 PTS (7G, 9A)
3. Brandon Glover 15 PTS (7G, 8A)

Listowel:
1. Cullen Mercer 19 PTS (9G, 10A)
2. Chayse Herrfort 18 PTS (8G, 10A)
3. Caleb Warren 17 PTS (9G, 8A

GOALTENDERS
London: 
David Ovsjannikov (14 GP, 12-2, 4 SO, 1.49 GAA, .946 SV%)

Listowel:
Max Wright (14 GP, 11-3, 4 SO. 1.61 GAA, .945 SV%)
Evan Reinhart (1 GP, 1-0, 4.00 GAA, .857 SV%)

STATS
London: (Regular Season | Playoffs)
Listowel: (Regular Season | Playoffs)

Click here for the 2018 GOJHL Playoffs Brackets

2018 GOJHL OHA SUTHERLAND CUP SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE:
(LONDON NATIONALS vs LISTOWEL CYCLONES)
Game 1: Wed. Apr. 11 at 7:30 PM @ London
Game 2: Fri. Apr. 13 at 7:30 PM @ Listowel
Game 3: Sat. Apr. 14 at 7:30 PM @ London
Game 4: Tue. Apr. 17 at 7:30 PM @ Listowel
*Game 5: Wed. Apr. 18 at 7:30 PM @ London
*Game 6: Fri. Apr. 20 at 7:30 PM @ Listowel
*Game 7: Sat. Apr. 21 at 7:30 PM @ London
(* if necessary)