The Vankleek Hill Cougars remain perfect four games into the 2025-2026 National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) season, after a 7-2 win over the North Dundas Rockets on Saturday evening (October 18).
Saturday, Oct. 18 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 7, North Dundas Rockets 2
The Cougars scored five goals in the third period to put away North Dundas, after two periods which saw them take a narrow 2-1 lead into the third, in front of another full house at the Vankleek Hill Arena.
Jacob Crete had two goals and an assist for Vankleek Hill in the win, with Connor Cook, Reid Cunning, Bradley Horner, Cody Horner, and Zachary Sullivan adding singles for the home club. Mael Gendron earned the win in goal. The Cougars outshot the Rockets 56-18 on the night.
Friday, Oct. 17 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 3, Westport Rideaus 2 (OT)
Garrett Cunning had the overtime winner as Vankleek Hill came back from an early deficit to top the Westport Rideaus 3-2 in overtime.
The game at the WTC Communications Centre in Westport saw the home team jump out to a 2-1 first period lead over the visiting Cougars, with Bradley Horner scoring the lone Vankleek Hill goal in the first. Jacob Crete tied the game up with a goal early in the second, but the contest remained scoreless the rest of the way until Cunning’s overtime heroics.
With their two victories on the weekend, the 4-0 Cougars moved into a tie for second place with the St-Isidore Eagles, who also sit at a perfect 4-0 after four games. Both teams have two games in hand over the first place Kanata Kings (5-1).
Cougars coach likes what he sees after four games
It’s a small sample size, but Cougars Head Coach Hamish Cunning likes what he sees so far, after the teams first four games.
Saturday evening’s 7-2 win over the North Dundas Rockets was the first big scoring night for the Cougars, who notched three goals in each of their first three games.
“I think we did run into a few hot goaltenders along the way,” Cunning noted. “Our shots on goal have been up there, but there’s been some solid goaltending on the other side. Last night in the third, we finally broke through.”
The Cougars coach said he has been happy with the effort put forth by the players each night, but there are still things the coaches need to work on.
“We have to be a little more defensive-minded in our own zone,” Cunning observed. “We have to keep it simple instead of trying to make the perfect pass, but we’ll work on that.”
“We’ve been playing well. I’m happy with how (the players) are performing on the ice.”
Cougars will play three games next weekend
The Cougars unbeaten streak will face a tough test next weekend, as the team plays three games in three days, with two of them on the road.
On Friday, October 24, Vankleek Hill travels to Metcalfe to face the Jets (3-2) at Larry Robinson Arena. Game time is 8:15 p.m.
The Cougars will gain travel on Saturday, as they face the Morrisburg Lions in a 7:15 p.m. start at the Morrisburg Arena.
Then on Sunday, the Cougars will return home to the Vankleek Hill Arena for an afternoon contest against the South Grenville Rangers (4-4). Game time is 4:30 p.m.
“It will be a good test for our guys,” said Cunning of the three games in three nights. “Fortunately we’ve been keeping the conditioning up in practice so that we would have some juice left for the third, which we saw last night.”
