The Vankleek Hill Cougars kept their undefeated 2026-2027 National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) record intact with a pair of convincing home wins last weekend.
Sunday, Nov. 8 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 8, Metcalfe Jets 2
A four-goal third period outburst turned what had been a close game into a blowout, as the Cougars broke away for an 8-2 win over the Metcalfe Jets in a rare Sunday afternoon contest at the Vankleek Hill Arena.
Forward Tristan Simoneau had a hat trick and an assist to lead the Cougars scoring, while Mike Fournier and Liam Lynn each had a pair. Jacob Crete added a goal and two assists on offence, with Ryder Hill notching three assists. Devon Madden earned the win in net for Vankleek Hill.
With Vankleek Hill taking period leads of 3-1 and 4-2, the game remained close through two periods.. But once the Cougars began pulling away in the third, the contest became chippy, with players from both teams taking multiple roughing penalties.
Vankleek Hill outshot Metcalfe 47-14 on the night.
Saturday, Nov. 7 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 6, North Dundas Rockets 3
Balanced scoring across all lines and solid goaltending helped the Cougars to their eleventh straight win to start the season, with a 6-3 victory over the North Dundas Rockets in a regular Saturday evening home contest at the Vankleek Hill Arena.
Jacob Crete, Ryder Hill, Bradley Horner, Cody Horner, Liam Lynn and Zachary Sullivan all had single goals in the win, with Sullivan and Horner each adding two assists.
Starting goaltender Tristan Paquette stopped 25 of 28 North Dundas shots to earn the win in the Vankleek Hill net. The Cougars fired 46 shots at the North Dundas net.
Vankleek Hill comfortably in first place in NCJHL standings
With a perfect 12-0-0-0 record for 24 points after Sunday’s win, the Cougars now have a nine-point lead in the NCJHL standings over the second place Metcalfe Jets (7-5-0-1). The Kanata Kings (7-4-0-0) and North Dundas Rockets (6-3-0-2) are tied for third place.
The Westport Rideaus (6-5-0-1) sit in fifth, with the Cumberland Castors (6-6-0-0) sixth. Although tied with the Castors for sixth, the South Grenville Rangers (5-3-0-2) have played two fewer games.
In ninth place sit the St-Isidore Eagles (4-8-0-1), while the Morrisburg Lions (0-12-0-0) remain the only team in the NCJHL without a point.
Photo Gallery – Cougars vs Metcalfe Jets, Sunday, Nov. 8
