It’s been a good weekend for the Vankleek Hill Cougars with two more wins to their credit.
The mid-October schedule in the National Capital Junior Hockey League saw the Vankleek Hill Cougars clips the Westport Rideaus 3-2 in overtime last Friday night at the WTC Communications Centre. Back in their home den Saturday night, the Cougars grounded the North Dundas Rockets 7-2.
Bradley Horner punched in a power-play goal against Westport at the first-period midpoint to put the Cougars on the scoreboard first. Assisting him were Liam Lynn and Cougars Assistant Captain Cody Horner.
Robert Onion tied up the score for Westport in the last three minutes of the period, assisted by Ethan Fowler. The Rideaus took the lead a minute later with a solo goal by Chad Caroll.
Less than a minute into second period and Vankleek Hill’s Jacob Crete ties up the score again, with help from Reid Cunning and Avery MacCuaig. Both teams fought for another goal during the rest of regular period play with no luck on either side in breaking the tie.
Going into overtime play and Garrett Cunning scores a solo goal to give the Cougars the win.
At home
Saturday night’s home game belonged to the Cougars from the first period with the visiting Rockets able to score just one goal each in second and third periods.
Zachary Sullivan launched Vankleek Hill’s scoring run five minutes into the first period, with assists from Nikolas Mayer and Bruno Laframboise.
Owen Shields gave the Rockets the first of their two goals of the night with a short-handed effort midway through second period. Jacob Crete broke the tie in Vankleek Hill’s favour near the end of the period, with an assist from Garrett Cunning.
Third period belonged to the Cougars with Crete scoring his second goal of the night five minutes into the play, assisted by Reid Cunning and Bradley Horner. A minute later Assistant Captain Cody Horner fired in the fourth goal of the night for
Vankleek Hill, with help from Connor Cook and Maxime Lavigne. A solo shot from Bradley Horner during the last half of the period pushed the Cougars lead to 5-1.
A power-play effort a minute later by Preston Lefbvre gave the Rockets their final goal of the match. Assisting Lefebvre were Max Messervey and Xavier Plante.
The final five minutes of the game saw Cougars goals from Cook, assisted by Lavigne and Nolan Macmillan, and from Reid Cunning, with assists by Crete and MacCuaig.
The Cougars are in Metcalfe October 24 against the Jets, then off to Morrisburge the following night to face the Lions.
