Cougars stay perfect with pair of weekend wins

The Vankleek Hill Cougars improved their 2025-2026 season record to a perfect 24 straight regulation time wins, with victories over the Kanata Kings and North Dundas Rockets last weekend.

The Cougars (24-0-0-0) are now 14 points ahead of the second place Westport Rideaus (16-6-1-1) in the 2025-2026 National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) standings, and 16 ahead of the third place Kanata Kings (15-7-1-1). The St-Isidore Eagles (14-10-0-0) sit alone in fourth place with 28 points.

Saturday, January 10 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 7, Kanata Kings 1

Cougars fans were set up for free hot dogs at Sunday’s game, when Vankleek Hill topped six goals, with a 7-1 win over the Kanata Kings at the Vankleek Hill Arena on Saturday evening, thanks to a promotion run by the home team.

Scoring was spread out for Vankleek Hill, with Jacob Crete, Bradley Horner, Bruno Laframboise, Liam Lynn, Avery MacCuaig, Nikolas Mayer, and newcomer Xavier Plante (see below) all scoring single goals. Garret Cunning had three assists, while Cody Horner had a pair of helpers.

Mael Gendron played a solid game in net for the Cougars, allowing only a single goal on the night on 24 shots. The Cougars fired 28 shots at the Kanata net.

Sunday, January 11 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 9, North Dundas Rockets 1

Garrett Cunning got Vankleek Hill off to a fast start, scoring two goals in the first period, as the Cougars overwhelmed the North Dundas Rockets 9-1 in a rare Sunday evening game at the Vankleek Hill Arena.

Mike Fournier and Cody Horner also scored twice for the home team, while Drew Cunning, Bruno Laframboise and Avery MacCuaig had single markers. Tristan Paquette stopped 21 of 22 North Dundas shots to earn the win, while Vankleek Hill fired 47 shots at the opposing net.

Cougars add veteran players to roster

The Cougars added to an already powerful roster by acquiring two veterans over the weekend. Forward Xavier Plante, previously with the North Dundas Rockets joined the team on Saturday, while defenseman Maxime Carriere, formerly with the Ottawa Junior Canadians, made his debut with Vankleek Hill on Sunday.

Plante was a member of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League champion Ottawa Jr. Canadians last season. He had 20 points in 20 games so far this season with North Dundas.

“The Vankleek Hill Cougars are proud to announce the signing of Xavier Plante, one of the top players in the league and a reigning EOJHL Champion from last season.” The Cougars wrote on their Facebook page on Saturday afternoon. “Xavier brings a winning pedigree, high-end skill, and a complete two-way game that adds serious depth, speed, and hockey IQ to our lineup. His ability to make plays under pressure, compete every shift, and elevate the players around him is exactly what we want in a Cougar.”

Plante scored a goal in his debut, in Vankleek Hill’s 7-1 win over the Kanata Kings on Saturday evening. Carriere recorded an assist on Sunday in his first game with the Cougars.

Upcoming games

The Cougars are on the road next weekend for both games, but both are short drives for avid supporters of the local squad.

Vankleek Hill faces off against the Cumberland Castors on Saturday, January 17, in an afternoon start that gets underway at 4:20 p.m. at the Ray Friel Recreation Complex in Cumberland.

On Sunday, January 18, the St-Isidore Eagles will host the Cougars at the St-Isidore Arena in a 7:30 p.m. start.

Vankleek Hill will be back home on Saturday, January 24, to face the Morrisburg Lions, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, January 25, the Cougars will again travel to St-Isidore to face the Eagles in a 7:30 p.m. start.