CINCINNATI, Ohio – The past several weeks have seen the Cyclones battle the K-Wings for division supremacy at mid-season.  As 2009 ended with two wins in Kalamazoo to begin the New Year, the Cyclones were atop the North.

 

Photo by Rob Huelsman

The Cyclones on the road are awesome, having won eight of their last eleven games. Captain Barrett Ehgoetz spearheads the ‘Clones winning ways.  Forwards Scott Reynolds and Matt Pierce provide additional firepower.  These three combined for 50 goals, 52 assists and an amazing plus 36 thus far in 2009-10.

Matt Pierce is representing the team at the All-Star game, as is netminder Jeremy Smith.

Pierce has 20 goals, 12 assists, and is plus fifteen at mid season. Smith, a second round draft pick, now ranked second in the league in goals against average at 2.61 with a record of 12-8-0-1 in twenty-two games played.  

The team leads the league in short handed goals with eleven to date. Ehgoetz has two of these to his credit, on the man disadvantage unit. His 36 points, lead the team in scoring while only having 22 penalty minutes in 36 games.

Photo by Rob Huelsman

Scott Reynolds, like Barrett, was a part of the Cyclones Kelly Cup winning team during 2007-08. He spent last season playing in Europe and returned to Coach Chuck Weber’s tutelage this past October. In 36 games, Reynolds has scored 14 goals with 20 assists and is plus fifteen. His play both in five-on-five situations, as well as on special teams, has helped to solidify the offense. Scott is a veteran two-way player, as is Ehgoetz, and their leadership shows the younger members of the squad how it’s done.

The power play unit remains near the bottom of the league for some unknown reason, as the power play has been weak. The penalty kill unit has been dangerous with the scoring touch and is in the middle of the pack as we enter the second half of the regular season.

Coach Weber will have to work out the kinks in the power play for the Cyclones to be able to count on scoring with the man advantage situations to come. Combined with the penalty kill unit continuing to produce goals, this would be a powerful combination indeed. Weber continues to wheel and deal picking up players to supplement his depleted lineup, due to call-ups and injuries.

The break should help to rest and rehab those nagging little strains and

Photo by Rob Huelsman

sprains developed over the past few months campaign. His skill at finding players to plug into his system has allowed the club to keep a winning tradition going these past three years.

Cyclones fans are at times worried that the AHL or NHL may come calling to snatch Weber away. He is an excellent developer of raw talent and refining those skills needed for continued advancement to the next levels of pro hockey.

Contact the author at rob.huelsman@prohockeynews.com