Cincinnati’s ECHL Team Hosts Wheeling Nailers Tonight for Famous $2 Beer Night

By Logan Davis, Staff Writer

The Cincinnati Cyclones have been a team of many mysteries this year. It seems as if they’re stuck in a loop of mediocrity, with a record of 19-18-4 and currently 9th place in the ECHL standings.

Last year, the Cyclones boasted a 47-16-6 record, finishing second in the Western Conference division of the ECHL. Promptly following the 2022-2023 season the Cyclones, previously affiliated with the Buffalo Sabers, became affiliates with the New York Rangers. 

So far one of the weaknesses for the Cyclones is a lack of consistency from their defensemen, Jalen Smerack. Smerack looked to be a stout defender last year with a solid plus/minus of 27. He has seemed to be a shell of himsef this season, putting up a -5 plus/minus. Plus/minus is a good indicator for evaluating the presence of a defender and what they bring to the table. It is determined by giving the player a “plus” when their team scores a goal and a “minus” when the other team scores. 

Another reason for the Cyclones giving up an increasing number of goals could be the fact that they have been forced to field four different goalies. In 2022-23, goalies Mark Sinclair and Beck Warm had a .900 save rate or higher meaning they saved around 90% of shots. 

Another statistic vastly different than last year to show the defensive woes is GAA (Goal Against Average). This year, the Cyclones’ best goalie,  Olof Lindbom is putting up an uninspiring 3.26 GAA with 22 games under his belt. 

On the contrary, Julian Sime’s GAA is 5.14 with five games.

Offensively,  Zach Andrusiak (pictured right)  is playing absolutely lights out. The forward from Yorkton, Saskatoon is looking to be the points leader for the team in back-to-back seasons. He currently sits at 45 points this season. The team as a whole is averaging around four goals per game. 

If the Cyclones can figure it out defensively, they could still make a run to the playoffs. In their last affair against the Toledo Walleye, which took place on Jan. 26, the Cyclones gave up a staggering nine goals and put up just one  All is not lost for the Cyclones’ this season, however.  They sit just one spot away from a playoff spot, in arms distance of the Tulsa Oilers and Kalamazoo Wings. 

The boys in black and red have dropped three of their last four matches, which places them ninth out of fourteen teams in the West. The Cyclones look to make up some ground on the standings by playing the number five Wheeling Nailers tonight. 

Upcoming promotions include tonights “$2 Beer Night,” “Cyclones Fight Cancer” night this upcoming Saturday, a “Crossbody Bag Giveaway” on Feb. 16, and an “Aluminum Koozie Giveaway” on Mar.1