Like Old Man River, the Vankleek Hill Cougars just keep rolling along in the 2025-2026 National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) season.

The Cougars improved their standing to a perfect 15-0-0-0 with a pair of victories last weekend, topping the Morrisburg Lions 5-1 on the road on Sunday afternoon (December 7), a day after dropping the Metcalfe Jets 4-1 at the Vankleek Hill Community Centre. The two victories followed a previous week’s meeting of the top two teams in the NCJHL, with Vankleek Hill earning a hard-fought 5-2 victory over the St-Isidore Eagles.

Sunday, December 7 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 5, Morrisburg Lions 1

Nolan Macmillan scored twice and added an assist, while Ethan Butler also found the back of the net twice, as the Cougars rolled to a 5-1 road win over Morrisburg (2-16-0-0).

Connor Cook scored the other Cougars goal, while Tristen Paquette stopped 16 shots to earn the win in net.

Saturday, December 6 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 4, Metcalfe Jets 1

Ethan Butler had a goal and two assists, while Mael Gendron turned away 27 of 28 shots, as the Cougars jumped out to an early lead and coasted to a 4-1 victory over the Metcalfe Jets (5-10-0-3) in front of another full house at the Vankleek Hill Arena.

Alexandre Chenier, Bradley Horner, and Liam Lynn had the other goals for the Cougars, who led 2-0 after the first period and 3-0 after two frames.

Saturday, November 29 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 5, St-Isidore Eagles 2

In a game between two nearby rivals – and the NCJHL’s top two teams – the Cougars came out on top 5-2 over the St-Isidore Eagles, but it was a back-and-forth battle at the Vankleek Hill Arena between two highly-skilled rosters.

Liam Lynn brought Cougars fans to their feet at 14:33 of the first period, scoring the opening goal from Zack Langlois and Ryder Hill. But the Eagles (12-4-0-0) stormed back in the second frame, with Owen Corput scoring just 2:37 in, with assists from Hugo Gagne and Justin-Samuel Fortin.

Lynn restored the Cougars’ one goal lead with his second of the game at 7:16 of the period, with assists from Jacob Crete and Bradley Horner. However, St-Isidore struck back just three minutes later, as Sydney Benoit scored unassisted to tie the game again. Just over two minutes later, Cody Horner scored, to send Vankleek Hill into the third period up 3-2.

Defenseman Bradley Horner scored his first of the game to put the Cougars up 4-2 early in the third, and Ryan Wolowicz sealed the game with an empty net goal from Zack Langlois and Zachary Sullivan with two minutes left in the contest.

Upcoming games

The Cougars are on the road for both games next weekend, as they face the South Grenville Rangers (8-8-0-1) in Prescott, on Saturday, December 13. The Cougars will again travel on Sunday (December 14), as they face the Cumberland Castors (7-7-0-2) at the Ray Friel Recreation Complex. Both games are 7:30 p.m. starts.

Vankleek Hill will travel for a fourth straight game on Friday, December 19, when they face the Kanata Kings (10-3-1-0) at the Bell Sensplex in a 7:30 p.m. start.

The Cougars will wrap up 2025 at home on Saturday, December 20, when they face their biggest rivals, the St-Isidore Eagles (12-4-0-0), at the Vankleek Hill Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Vankleek Hill Cougars goaltender Tristan Paquette (29) makes a stop in Vankleek Hill’s 5-2 win over the St-Isidore Eagles on Saturday, November 29. Photo: Reid Masson