Cougars respond with 5-3 win in Westport to tie up series
The Westport Rideaus stunned the home crowd at the Vankleek Hill Arena, scoring three unanswered goals in the third period to take a 5-2 win over the Vankleek Hill Cougars in the opening Game of the National Capital Junior Hockey League finals on Saturday evening (March 28).
Vankleek Hill responded in the rematch on Sunday (March 29) to post a 5-3 win on the road in Westport, to even up the series at one game apiece.
With three games upcoming this weekend, both teams will be looking to gain an edge in what looks to be an extremely competitive final between two closely matched squads.
Sunday, March 29 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 5, Westport Rideaus 3
Liam Lynn scored twice, while netminder Tristan Paquette turned away 27 of 30 shots, as the Vankleek Hill Cougars roared back with a 5-3 road victory over the Westport Rideaus to even up the NCJHL Finals at one game apiece.
Bradley Horner had a goal and two assists on the night, while Nolan Macmillan and Jacob Crete had the other Cougars goals. Team captain Cody Horner had three assists, as the Cougars fired 38 shots at Westport goaltender Ben Spicer, who was not as sharp as he was on Saturday evening in the Rideaus 5-2 win at the Vankleek Hill Arena.
As they did the previous night, the Rideaus again jumped out to an early lead, with Robert Onion scoring just 3:20 into the contest to put Westport up 1-0 and ignite the home crowd at the WTC Communications Centre. But Lynn’s first goal at 14:11 of the first quieted things down.
Brad Horner put Vankleek Hill up 2-1 at 6:28 of the second, and Lynn’s second goal just after the period’s midway point increased the lead to two goals, before Westport’s Lane Morency brough Westport back to within one with less than two minutes left in the period.
Cougars forward Nolan Macmillan restored the two-goal lead just 1:11 into the third, but Westport’s Adam Viau cut the lead back to one less than two minutes later. Jacob Crete repaid the favor just 16 seconds after Viau’s goal, and the Cougars hung on to the 5-3 lead for the rest of the game.
Saturday, March 28 – Westport Rideaus 5, Vankleek Hill Cougars 2
Westport netminder Ben Spicer stopped 36 of 38 shots, as the Rideaus stunned the home crowd at the Vankleek Hill Arena by scoring four unanswered goals to take a 5-2 win in the opening game of the NCJHL Finals.
After a scoreless first period, Westport’s Braden Belot opened the scoring at 6:03 of the second to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. But the Cougars responded with two goals, just eight seconds apart to go up 2-1. First Cody Horner scored at 9:15, on an assist from his brother Bradley; then after the ensuing centre ice faceoff, Rylan Wolowicz scored on assists from Ethan Butler and Reid Cunning.
But the two-goal outburst was it for the Cougars’ offense on the night. Westport’s Chad Carroll tied it up at 2-2 with just under four minutes left in the period. Then in the third, Westport’s Ethann Fowler and Ben Peladeau scored on Cougars netminder Mael Gendron, before Robert Onion put the game away by scoring an empty net goal with just under a minute remaining.
Three games on tap this weekend
With a split of the first two games of the NCJHL Finals, the series is guaranteed to go to at least five games, with three scheduled for the upcoming weekend.
Westport will host Game 3 this Friday, April 3. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the WTC Communications Centre.
On Saturday, April 4, the Vankleek Hill Arena will be filled with fans looking for the Cougars to get revenge at home in Game 4. Game time is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
The Cougars will also host Game 5 on Sunday, April 5. Puck drop at the Vankleek Hill Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
If necessary, Game 6 will be played in Westport on Friday, April 10, while Game 7 would return to the Vankleek Hill Arena on Saturday, April 11.
Photo Galley – Cougars vs. Westport – Saturday, March 28. Photos by Sylvain Lauwers
