Saturday, Nov. 22 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 5, Westport Rideaus 2
Zachary Sullivan had the tying goal early in the second period to open up the floodgates, as the Vankleek Hill Cougars scored four unanswered goals in the frame for a comeback 5-2 win over the Westport Rideaus on Saturday evening (November 22).
The win in front of another full house at the Vankleek Hill Arena kept the Cougars perfect on the season with a record of 12-0-0-0. It was the only game in two weeks for the local squad, as Sunday’s scheduled home game against the South Grenville Rangers was canceled after South Grenville forfeited the match.
Westport (9-4-1-1) knocked off the previously undefeated St-Isidore Eagles just last weekend, and the Rideaus were looking to do the same to Vankleek Hill, jumping out to a 1-0 lead just eight minutes into Saturday’s game. Cody Horner tied up the game for the Cougars with seven minutes left in the frame, but Westport’s Braden Belot beat Cougars netminder Tristan Paquette while the Rideau’s were shorthanded in the final two minutes of the period, to restore the one goal lead and send Westport into intermission up 2-1.
The lead held up for almost half of the second period, before Sullivan’s tying goal 9:24 into the frame. Just two minutes later, Bruno Laframboise fired home what turned out to be the eventual winner, to put Vankleek Hill up 3-2. Liam Lynn scored back-to-back goals in the final six minutes of the second, to give the Cougars a 5-2 lead that would hold up through a scoreless third.
Cougars host St-Isidore this Saturday
The game everyone has been waiting for in the 2025-2026 National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) season is coming up this Saturday (November 29), as the second place St-Isidore Eagles (11-1-0-0) come to Vankleek Hill to face the first place Cougars (12-0-0-0) at the Vankleek Hill Arena.
The two local teams have been the class of the NCJHL so far, but this Saturday’s contest will be the first time they meet in the regular season this year. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. Expect a packed house for this one!
Prior to their big matchup against St-Isidore, Vankleek Hill will be on the road this Friday (November 28), as the team travels to face the Metcalfe Jets. Game time at Larry Robinson Arena in Metcalfe is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
