The Vankleek Hill Cougars are one win away from the National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) finals!
Maxime Laliberte scored the winner with 9:33 to go, as the Cougars thrilled a home capacity crowd at the Vankleek Hill Community Centre to take an 8-6 win over the Morrisburg Cougars in an exciting back-and-forth contest on Sunday afternoon (March 10). The win, combined with Saturday night’s 6-3 road victory at the Morrisburg Arena, gives Vankleek Hill a three games to one stranglehold on the NCJHL semi-final series.
Sunday, March 10 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 8, Morrisburg Lions 6
Jérémie Marcotte fired four goals and two assists, Andy Lightle-Blais had two goals and four assists, while Maxime Laliberte scored twice – including the winner – and added two assists, as the Cougars topped Morrisburg 8-6 to take a 3-1 lead in the series.
The back-and-forth contest saw the teams tied at two after the first period, before the Cougars took control, culminating with Laliberte’s first goal of the game to give the home team a 5-3 lead midway through the second. But the Lions roared back with two goals before the end of the period, to send the two teams into the final frame tied 5-5.
Morrisburg’s Joshua Broad gave the visitors a 6-5 lead at 5:55 of the third, but Lightle-Blais replied just 19 seconds later for Vankleek Hill to tie it up. Laliberte then sent the home crowd into a frenzy, scoring with 9:33 left, from Bruno Laframboise and Nathan Williams, to give the Cougars a 7-6 lead they never relinquished. Marcotte scored his fourth of the game into an empty net to seal the win with 1:04 left.
Tristan Paquette earned the win in net for Vankleek Hill, coming in to relieve starting netminder Brayden Prevost just before the midway point of the second period.
Saturday, March 9 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 6, Morrisburg Lions 3
Maxime Laliberte had two goals and an assist, as Vankleek Hill jumped out to an early 3-1 first period lead and never looked back to earn a well-deserved 6-3 road win over Morrisburg.
Jérémy Marcotte had a goal and two assists for Vankleek Hill, while Reid Cunning, Christophe Quann, and Malcolm Seguin each had a goal and an assist, as the Cougars used a balanced attack to keep pressure on the Lions’ net. Brayden Prevost earned the win in net for Vankleek Hill.
Cougars could wrap up series on Friday night in Morrisburg
The Cougars will have three chances to wrap up their NCJHL semi-final series with the Morrisburg Lions, starting with a Friday night, March 15, contest in Morrisburg. Puck drop at the Morrisburg Arena is 7:30 p.m.
Game 6, if necessary, is scheduled for Saturday evening, March 16, at the Vankleek Hill Community Centre. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Should the series go the full distance, Game 7 will be played on Sunday, March 17. The afternoon contest is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Photo Gallery – Cougars vs. Lions, Sunday, March 10
