Cougars get back on track with win and tie last week
By Bill Rea

Scott Georgopoulos was able to break in on his own in the dying seconds of Thursday's overtime frame while his mates were short handed, but Stayner goalie Andrew Pilkey frustrated him, preserving the tie.

Things have improved some for the Schomberg Cougars.

After getting their regular season off to a rough start with two losses at the hands of the Alliston Hornets, the local junior C hockey heroes turned in two solid efforts this week, emerging with a win and a tie.

And a sound argument could be made that a pair of wins were well within their grasp.

The Cougars were just 48 seconds away from their first win Thursday night when the Stayner Siskins popped in their fourth goal of the night to tie things up and forcing overtime. Things actually could have worked out a lot worse for the side, as they were forced to play short-handed for most of the five-minute extra frame. But there was only one really good scoring chance, as Scott Georgopoulos broke right in with just seconds remaining on the clock. Stayner goalie Andrew Pilkey was up to the challenge, however.

Cougar newcomer Matt Steenhoek opened the scoring, and other markers were notched by Mike Shuryn, Keith Thompson and Shane Jones. Thomas Faris and Joe Digirolamo each contributed two assists, and Mike Digirolamo helped out on one.

Steenhoek, 18, from Aurora, had been playing for a club in Orangeville when he was released and was picked up by the Cougars.

"It should be a good year, I think," he commented. "I think we should do fairly well, once the team gets to know each other better."

Shuryn was glad the team had broken the losing skid.

"It was good to get the first point," he said. "Everybody worked hard."

He also observed that about three-quarters of the players are rookies, so a tight game offered some good experience.

Shuryn said the club played a full game, unlike the previous two outings. He agreed there were a few mental lapses, but that means they have something to work on.

Head Coach Gary Waldrum wouldn't say he was relieved to have that first point.

"It's way too early for relief," he said. "I'd say it's a step in the right direction. We have a lot of rookies and it was valuable experience."

The following night allowed the Cougars to sample the taste of victory, as they notched a 5-3 win in Midland at the expense of the Flyers.

Schomberg spotted their hosts a power-play marker late in the first period, then connected four times in the second, twice when the Flyers were a man short. But Midland got two quick markers in the middle of the third, and pulled their goalie in hopes of an equalizer. But Jones relieved the pressure by putting the puck in the empty net with less than half a minute on the clock.

Joe Digirolamo got two of the other Schomberg goals, while Steenhoek and Brad Cantelon also scored. Georgopoulos contributed a pair of assists, while Steenhoek, Jones, Shuryn and Jake Whelan had one apiece.

"It's good to get that over with; get the first win," Waldrum commented later.

He also said he wasn't too concerned that the other teams were able to close the gap on his men late in the game.

"It's part of the process with the rookies," he remarked. "It's part of their situational experience."

The Cougars return to action tomorrow (Thursday) night when the host the Erin Shamrocks, starting at 8:15 p.m.