(Photo: Alec Murray Media)
For the first time ever, the Fort Erie Meteors are headed to the Sutherland Cup, for a chance to capture Jr. B glory against other conference winners from within the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
But, how do they stack up with the Listowel Cyclones and St. Marys Lincolns?
Both Fort Erie and St. Marys finished second in their conference during the regular season, and knocked off the top team in their respective conferences (Caledonia Corvairs and London Nationals) in seven games in the conference finals. Meantime, the Listowel Cyclones won their conference in the regular season, and lost just one game in their playoffs to this point.
Fort Erie has played the most playoff games of the three squads, with 17 now under their belt. Meantime, St Marys has played 15, while Listowel had the shortest conference playoffs with 13 games.
Fort Erie Meteors:
Round 1: Def. Port Colborne Sailors (#7) 4-0
Round 2: Def. St. Catharines Falcons (#3) 4-2
Round 3: Def. Caledonia Corvairs (#1) 4-3
St. Marys Lincolns:
Round 1: Def. Sarnia Leggionaires (#7) 4-0
Round 2: Def. Strathroy Rockets (#3) 4-0
Round 3: Def. London Nationals (#1) 4-3
Listowel Cyclones:
Round 1: Def. Caledon Bombers (#8) 4-0
Round 2: Def. Ayr Centennials (#5) 4-0
Round 3: Def. Stratford Warriors (#2) 4-1
From a record standpoint, Listowel had the most wins, points and goals of the three teams during the regular season, as well as the least goals against.
Listowel Cyclones:
-38 wins, 9 losses, 3 overtime losses, 79 points (1st in Midwestern Conference)
-206 goals for, 103 against
Fort Erie Meteors:
-36 wins, 12 losses, 2 overtime losses, 74 points (2nd in Golden Horseshoe Conference)
-191 goals for, 118 against
St. Marys Lincolns:
-33 wins, 11 losses, 6 overtime losses, 72 points (2nd in Western Conference)
-200 goals for, 130 against
While it’s the first appearance in the Sutherland Cup for Fort Erie, the same cannot be said for Listowel and St. Marys. Listowel has competed for the cup 4 times, with appearances in 2005, 2017, 2018, and 2019, while winning in 2018 against the Caledonia Corvairs.
As for the St. Marys Lincolns, they’ve appeared six times, but not since 1994, before the formation of the GOJHL in 2007. In six appearances, St. Marys has won the cup twice in 1963 and 1976.
The schedule for the Sutherland Cup has not yet been announced by the GOJHL.
(Written by: Matt Latour)
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