The Vankleek Hill Cougars remain alive in the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League finals, after a heart-stopping 5-4 overtime win over the Gatineau-Hull Volant on Sunday afternoon (March 31).
Down three games to none in the series and trailing 4-2 in the third period, the Cougars thrilled a packed house at the Vankleek Hill Community Centre with an epic comeback victory. Jérémie Marcotte got the party started, bringing Vankleek Hill to within one goal by scoring at 8:20 of the third. Then with just 8:05 left, Bruno Laframboise brought the capacity crowd to its feet, scoring on the powerplay to knot up the game 4-4.
The two teams remained tied through the last eight minutes of regulation and then the overtime period, until a holding penalty to the Volant’s Tyler Lafleur gave the Cougars an opportunity. Marcotte made the most of the ensuing powerplay, scoring at 11:03 of the extra frame from Joshua Desjardins and Zachary Bigras to keep Vankleek Hill alive in the finals for another week.
Sunday’s win was sweet redemption for a tight loss in Game 3 the previous Friday evening (March 29), where the Cougars fell 4-3 to the Volant, despite leading the contest 3-0 after the first period.
Vankleek Hill Community Centre not available for Game 6
The NCJHL finals will be decided next weekend, but if they are to win the series, the Cougars will have to do it without playing Game 6 at the Vankleek Hill Community Centre.
Game 5 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 5, at Centre Slush Puppie in Gatineau. If necessary, Game 6 on Saturday, April 6, will be hosted by the Cougars at the Robert Hartley Sports Complex in Hawkesbury, as the team has been advised the ice surface in Vankleek Hill is not available. Game time in Hawkesbury is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
If necessary, a deciding Game 7 will be played at Centre Slush Puppie in Gatineau on Sunday, April 7, beginning at 4 p.m.
