Sunday, October 22 – VKH Cougars 4 North Dundas Rockets 2
Captain Joshua Desjardins had three goals and an assist, as the Vankleek Hill Cougars won their fourth straight game with a 4-2 win home win over the North Dundas Rockets on Sunday afternoon (October 22).
Andy Lightle-Blais scored a single marker in front of the home crowd at the Vankleek Hill Arena, Maxime Laliberte had two assists, while Zachary Bigras, Brenden Easterbrook and Malcolm Seguin each had an assist. Brayden Prevost earned the win in goal for Vankleek Hill, stopping all but two shots fired by the Rockets.
Saturday, October 21 – VKH Cougars 3 Morrisburg Lions 1
Goaltender Tristan Paquette turned away almost every shot he faced to help lead the Cougars to a 3-1 road win over the Morrisburg Lions on Saturday evening (October 21).
The rookie netminder allowed only goal on the night, as Jérémy Marcotte, Rowan Mcpherson and Malcolm Seguin each scored single markers in Vankleek Hill’s third straight win. McPherson’s even strength goal just after the midway point of the second frame stood up as the winner, while Marcotte’s shorthanded marker seven minutes into the third provide the local squad with some insurance over the game’s final minutes.
Cougars raise funds for former player Tyler McMahon
Last Sunday’s home game against North Dundas was dedicated to a member of the Cougars’ family, Tyler McMahon. The 50/50 draw funds collected by the Cougars from Sunday’s game are being donated to Tyler and his family.
A gofundme support page for donations to help McMahon and his family has also been set up. To donate, please visit the following link: https://gofund.me/d447e32f
Vankleek Hill moves into second in NCJHL standings
With the two wins last weekend, the Cougars moved into second place in the National Capital Junior Hockey League, as they improved their record to seven wins and two losses in their first nine games. Vankleek Hill trails the league-leading Gatineau-Hull Volant (8-2) by just two points in the standings, with the Cougars having a game in hand.
Vankleek Hill kicked off the current four game win streak with a 5-1 win over the Westport Rideaus at the Vankleek Hill Arena on October 14. The Cougars then won two in a row, with a hard-fought 6-5 road victory over the South Grenville Rangers on Sunday, October 15.
Upcoming games
Vankleek Hill has only one game scheduled next weekend. The Cougars will (7-2) will face off against the last place Almonte Inferno (0-9) in a Sunday afternoon game at the Vankleek Hill Arena on October 29. Game time is 4:30 p.m.
On Friday, November 3, Vankleek Hill travels to Westport to play the Rideaus in a 7:30 p.m. start.
The Cougars will be back at home at the Vankleek Hill Arena on Saturday, November 4, to face off against the third place Cumberland Castors (6-2).
On Sunday, November 5, the Cougars will cap off a busy weekend with a home game against the Morrisburg Lions (5-5). Game time is 4:30 p.m.
Cougars tidbits
With his four point afternoon on Sunday against North Dundas, Cougars captain Joshua Desjardins moved into the top five in NCJHL scoring. Desjardins, who hails from Chute-à-Blondeau, has recorded nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in just eight games.
Cougars rookie forward Garrett Cunning scored his first NCJHL goal in Vankleek Hill’s 6-5 win over the South Grenville Rangers on Sunday, October 15. Cunning has added three assists for four points so far this season. A good start to his junior career!
NCJHL Standings – October 23, 2023
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