98′ Cyclones Could Be Best Ever

Looking back at the many years the Chatham-Kent Cyclones ‘AAA’ hockey organization has been in operation, it’s looking more and more like the 1998 class could turn out to be one of the best in the Cyclones’ history, if not the best.

Let’s look at that 1998 class, who made it to the semi-finals of the OHL Cup.

Already in the OHL are Joseph Raaymakers, Brady Pataki, Levi Tetrault, Brendan Harrogate, and alum Brock Philips.

Nolan Gardiner started his season in the OHL, but is not back in Junior B where he’s having a breakout season.

Playing Junior B this season are Ross Krieger, Jarrett Marks, Ben Nicholls, Anthony Hurtubise, and Blair Derynck, while Nick Delyzer played Junior B last season, before returning to Junior C this year. From this group, it’s safe to say there are NCAA prospects in the bunch. Former 98 Cyclone Collin Capstick is also playing Junior B this season in St. Marys.

The remainder of the team is at the Junior C level, with only a few out of hockey.

If you want to cheat and cross the sporting lines, we can throw sure fire MLB draft pick Luke Van Rycheghem into the mix as another top athlete from the 98 bunch.

How does that stack up to previous years?

Well, the 1997’s were very successful themselves and could be the biggest competition to those 98s.

Travis Konecny is a superstar and first round NHL draft pick, while James McEwan, Kody Gagnon, and Trent Fox are in the OHL, and Brendan Johnston has spent significant time in the OHL, while several others were drafted, and Jake Reed continues to work toward an NCAA offer. With Konecny in the group, it’s close, but with the 98s still having time, more players are likely to emerge from the group.

It’s hard to give the nod to this group however, as Konecny, Fox, and Gagnon were all gone from the Cyclones prior to their draft year.

Aside from the 97s, the only legitimate competition the 1998 group has is the 1993 crop, and it’s hard to compare these groups, as one has finished Junior, and is now in the pros, while the other is still carving out their path.

The 1993 group featured Seth Griffith, who spent much of last season in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, and Dane Fox, who was signed by the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, and played in the ECHL last season. Kyle Hope played a successful OHL career, and signed an AHL contract after attending multiple NHL rookie camps, before choosing to play for the University of Windsor.

The 1990 group is another worth mentioning, with the organization’s best ever product, TJ Brodie, along with fellow NHL draft pick and pro goaltender Jason Missiaen.

So who is the best ever Chatham-Kent Cyclones crop? Well, that’s still to be determined, but the 1998 crop has the potential to steal the crown.