Listowel, ONT. — The Listowel Cyclones opened their season with a milestone night for two players and a point in the standings, falling 6–5 in overtime to the Woodstock Navy Vets at Steve Kerr Memorial Arena.
Kobe Gravelle and Shayne Keefe each scored their first career GOHL goal, helping fuel a four-goal second period that sent Listowel into the third with a 5–3 advantage. Aidan Renaud recorded three assists, while 12 Cyclones contributed points in the home opener.
Thomas Paleczny opened the scoring at 8:39 of the first period, recording Listowel’s first goal of the season with assists from Aaron Howell and Ethan Fischer. The Cyclones maintained their lead until Woodstock scored at 19:49, leaving the teams tied 1–1 after 20 minutes.
Woodstock took a 2–1 lead at 1:27 of the second period. Listowel answered at 7:20 when Taynton Berfelz scored his first of the season, with Hudson Wiles and Renaud picking up the assists.
The visitors regained the advantage with a power-play goal at 15:53, but the Cyclones responded just 65 seconds later, and began a stretch of three unanswered goals before the intermission.
Gravelle supplied the equalizer at 16:58, marking his first career GOHL goal with an important contribution to Listowel’s comeback. Heath Bradley and Keefe earned the assists as the Cyclones drew even at 3–3.
Clark deBoer followed at 18:21, converting on the power play to put Listowel back in front. Renaud and Paleczny assisted on the goal, giving the Cyclones their first lead since the opening period.
With just five seconds remaining in the second, Keefe added a milestone of his own. His first career GOHL goal extended Listowel’s lead to 5–3 and capped a three-goal outburst in the final 3:02 of the frame. Renaud collected his third assist of the period, while Fischer registered his second of the evening.
For Gravelle and Keefe, their first goals provided memorable moments in their GOHL careers while playing a central role in the Cyclones’ most productive period of the night. Keefe finished the game with a goal and an assist.
Listowel carried its two-goal cushion into the third, but Woodstock scored at 12:31 and again at 13:31 to bring the game level. The 5–5 score held through the remainder of regulation before the visitors scored the winner at 6:23 of overtime.
Jack Bree finished with 34 saves on 40 shots in the Cyclones’ net.
Renaud’s three-assist performance led Listowel’s offence. Paleczny joined Keefe with a goal and an assist, while Fischer contributed two assists. Berfelz, Gravelle and deBoer rounded out the scoring as five different Cyclones found the net.
Although the overtime result left Listowel short of a home-opening victory, the evening featured contributions throughout the lineup, a point to begin the season and two first-goal milestones to celebrate.
The Cyclones thank our fans, volunteers and sponsors for joining us at Steve Kerr Memorial Arena and helping welcome a new season of Cyclones hockey.
Listowel returns to home ice on Sunday against the St. Thomas Stars, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Steve Kerr Memorial Arena. Fans unable to attend can also stream the game on FloSports.
-Listowel Cyclones Hockey Club
