Cougars earn three of four points on weekend

The Vankleek Hill Cougars took home three out of a possible four points last weekend, falling in overtime 3-2 to North Dundas at home on Sunday (November 27), one day after a 6-2 road win over Almonte.

With a record of 8-5-0-1, Vankleek Hill remains in sixth place in the National Capital Junior Hockey League standings. The Cougars, however, have several games in hand on the teams in front of them. Vankleek Hill has a chance to move up in the standings next weekend with games against two of the league’s weaker teams.

Weekend scores

Sunday, November 27 – North Dundas Rockets 3 Vankleek Hill Cougars 2 (OT)

Mikael Bissonnette and Eric Skyba scored for the Cougars (8-5-0-1) in a 3-2 overtimes loss to the North Dundas Rockets in a rare Sunday evening home game at Hawkesbury’s Robert Hartley Sports Complex.

The Cougars dominated the first period, outshooting the Rockets 17-6, but managed only a single goal by Bissonnette, as North Dundas netminder Anton Moshchensky stood on his head in goal. North Dundas came out stronger in the second frame, scoring two goals to stake the Rockets to a 2-1 lead after two.

Skyba tied the game at 2-2, firing home the tying goal with just 2:34 left in the third period, with assists from Alexandre Saul and Andy Lightle-Blais. But North Dundas ended the drama at 2:39 of overtime, scoring the winner on the powerplay.

Cougars goaltender Frederick Duroucher-Bourdon took the loss in goal, stopping 30 of 33 shots. Vankleek Hill fired 40 shots at the Rockets net.

Saturday, November 26 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 6 Almonte Inferno 2

Cougars defenseman Brenden Easterbrook had a goal and two assists, while rookie netminder Jeremie Tessier stopped 33 of 35 shots, as Vankleek Hill earned a road victory over the Almonte Inferno (3-11-2-1) on Saturday night (November 26).

Alexandre Saul, Andy Lightle-Blais, Rowan McPherson, Eric Skyba and Maxim Lalonde each had singles in the contest. The Cougars broke out to a 3-0 lead after one period and led 5-0 by midway through the second.

Vankleek Hill outshot Almonte 50-35 on the night.

This week’s games

The Cougars have a chance to pick up some points against two struggling NCJHL teams this upcoming weekend. Vankleek Hill travels to Metcalfe this Friday, December 2, for an 8 p.m. contest against the last-place Jets (1-16-0-0). On Saturday (December 3) the Cougars will host the Westport Rideaus (3-14-2-0) at The Bob in Hawkesbury. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

– With files from Mackenzie Hinton