CINCINNATI, Ohio – The ECHL opened it’s 30th season with the Cincinnati Cyclones hosting the rival Kalamazoo Wings to begin the 2017-18 campaign. The Cyclones are looking forward to new AHL and NHL affiliations after a 10-year agreement with the Nashville Predators ended last season. Long-time Cincy hockey fans will remember the last time the city was aligned with the Buffalo Sabers franchise. The AHL Swords were playing here in the early 1970’s and after a long time in between and several franchises and leagues later, it has come around once again.
Fans enjoyed a Fan Fest on the US Bank Arena Plaza to begin the festivities and welcome them back to hockey. As the fans filled the lower arena the energy rose. When the lights dimmed and the video board played “Thunderstruck,” the electricity of anticipation was palpable. Introductions of this season’s squad ensued to the roar of approval from the crowd.
The Cincinnati Swords Mites were honored guests and were introduced as well. Once the Opening festivities were completed, the Main Event began in earnest. A filled lower bowl cheered as the first face-off and puck drop of the new season rolled into action.
The Goaltender match up pitted two veterans, with Joel Martin in net for the K-Wings, and Anthony Peters for the Cyclones. Martin, the long-time Kalamazoo Goalie, has often been a thorn in the ‘Clones aspirations throughout many seasons in the ECHL. New to the Cyclones is Peters, the former Florida Everblades netminder, who led the ECHL in games played and wins last season. The ‘Clones are carrying three Goaltenders at present with the others assigned by the parent clubs. Jason Kasdorf served as the back up and Jonas Johanson was a healthy scratch to begin the season.
The team also announced this season’s captain will be Eric Knodel. The 6’6” D-man weighs in at 225 pounds and is one of the returning veterans from last year’s squad. He was drafted 128th overall in 2009 by the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 51 games last season he led all defensemen in scoring with eight goals, combined with twenty assists.
The contest began with the home team being guilty of two penalties in the first five minutes of the new campaign. On the man disadvantage the penalty kill unit performed well and Peters was never seriously challenged early. With 15:03 left and the teams at five-on-five, former Cyclone Eric Kattelus shoved a goal home in a tussle at the crease to give the K-Wings the early lead.
The action was rough and tumble as pile-ups occurred and tempers flared. Kalamazoo doubled its lead midway through the period at 13:33 on a tally by second-year forward Kyle Blaney. The ‘Clones rallied back on the power play late in the period. With just 2:41 left, Justin Vaive potted his first goal of the season on a rebound that Martin lost control of to halve the lead. The Wings dominated most of the period, but the Cyclones showed resolve on the final power play.
The ‘Clones roared back to begin the middle stanza, but several odd man rushes didn’t pan out well, plus Joel Martin was a wall. Martin was shoved, run into, and buried in the pile a few times, but came out shining and no worse for the wear. The K-Wings defense was stout to be sure, but the persistence of the Cyclones paid off at 15:20 when Brycen Martin rang a shot onto the crossbar and in behind the K-Wing netminder to tie the game at two each.
The period ended with the Cyclones again on the power play and that would continue into the final period of regulation.
There was lots of action on the ice in the third, but no scoring by either side as the netminders both stood tall, and crouched low.
As the game proceeded into the three-on-three overtime period, the home crowd seemed hopeful that the Cyclones could pull out a win and get the second point of the night. The K-Wings scored the game winning goal by blue liner Jon Jutzi with a scant minute remaining in overtime. Although the Cyclones had applied pressure during the extra period, Jutzi found the back of the net past a sprawling Peters to end the first game of 2017-18.
The Cyclones will embark on a several week road schedule until returning to USBA on November 4th to honor the ten year anniversary of the Cyclones’ first Kelly Cup Championship season.
Contact the writer/photographer: Rob.Huelsman@prohockeynews.com
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