By Tara de Ryk
April 6, 2010

DAVIDSON-The third time was the charm for Cyclones' captain Ryan Shaw.

He finally got to hoist a provincial championship cup when the Cyclones won the Provincial D Championship on March 26.

Davidson beat the Dinsmore-Loreburn 19-amos 5-0 to win the final series 2 games to 1.

This was Shaw's third swipe at a provincial championship since he began playing with the Cyclones. He was with the squad in '95-'96 when they lost to Biggar in the championship round of B provincials and was on the team two years ago when the Cyclones again made it to the provincial finals but lost to Eastend.

The 2009-2010 championship is the team's first since the Cyclones last won it in 1989. It was a generation ago and to prove it, three players from that 1989 squad have sons on this year's team.

Carl Johnson's son Kirk, Tom Prpick's son Bryce and Mike Schneider's son Jason all followed in their fathers' footsteps.

This was a great year for the Cyclones who were able to bring in a few players to complement a roster packed with talented local players, says coach Jason Shaw.

Josh Sim, Dave Holinaty and Chris Babiy all come from Saskatoon and Jason Schneider and Josh Richardson come from Regina to play with the Cyclones.

Ages range from 18 to 39 and coach Shaw says all players get along really well, which helps build team chemistry.

Throughout the season, the Cyclones regularly played three and even four lines. This helped, Shaw says, so if a player was missing there was always someone who at could fill in the position.

The Cyclones had their share of injuries in the final. Some were playing hurt. Trent Tomyn and Brett Siroski had shoulder injuries, Kirk Johnson was playing despite a bout of the 'flu. Jason Schneider was unable to play in the final game due to a burn injury, but the team didn't forget him, making sure his #8 jersey was on the bench and in the team photo.

"I think everyone was disappointed Jason Schneider wasn't there for the final. He has never won a provincial championship," Shaw said.

Other members of the Cyclones have won a provincial title. Many of the team's younger players are graduates from Davidson's successful midget team who won the title last year.

Goalie Mark Zoerb was steady in the crease for the Cyclones. Just 18, Zoerb held up to the pressure. This is Zoerb's first full year with the Cyclones. He played with them a bit last year as a midget AP.

He and goalie Brady Willner split netminding duties earlier in the season. Willner then broke his foot and Zoerb was the Cyclones' #1 goalie. The Cyclones then called up midget-aged player Kashtin Dietz to serve as backup. Willner came back in time to suit up for the final game, but it was Zoerb who earned the shutout in the final game.

In front of a capacity crowd at Davidson's Communiplex last Friday the Cyclones took a 3-0 lead into the second period. It looked like the Cyclones were in trouble in the second period after taking numerous penalties, but they managed to kill off five in a row and then score a fourth goal late in the frame.

Zoerb was hot and the 19-amos couldn't buy a goal. Davidson sealed the championship midway through the third period with their fifth goal of the game and then made sure Dinsmore-Loreburn didn't have any chances.

With the victory, Davidson became the Long Lake Hockey League's third provincial champion this season. Teams from the LLHL have won D, C and B provincial titles. Watrous, which was playing in the A-division, lost in the semi-final round.

Shaw says because their league is so competitive the Cyclones were prepared for provincials.

"Teams in our league are as good as anybody we'll play in provincials," Shaw said.

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