Cougars' slump gets worse after two more losses
By Bill Rea

Cougar Joe Digirolamo was dueling with Siskin defender Steve Zawacki late in the first period of Thursday's contest in Stayner. Digirolamo collected a short-handed goal late in the game.

The Schomberg Cougars continue to struggle.

The local heroes of junior C hockey were soundly beaten twice last week, dropping an 8-2 decision Thursday night in Stayner against the Siskins. Then they were blanked 10-0 the following evening when the travelled west to face the Fergus Devils.

Very little went right for the Cougars Thursday, as the Siskins outshot them 45- 21. The home forces were ahead 2-0 after one period and 5-1 after two. To complicate matters, Schomberg had a hard time finding any luck. There were several occasions when promising looking shots either conveniently deflected off of legs, or just missed the net by inches.

But Head Coach Gary Waldrum wasn't ready to lay the blame on fate. "There's little more to it than that," he commented after the match.

"The team has to take responsibility for the result," he added. "We lose as a team, win as a team."

He also pointed out four of the top rank players on the club were out of action. "That's not an excuse," he said. "It's reality."

Dave Munshaw scored a power-play goal mid-way through the second period, with assists going to Jamie Alton and Luke Maw, who was suited up for his first game in a Cougar uniform. Joe Digirolamo finished off a nice single effort late in the third, gloving the puck at the blue line and forcing his way to the Stayner net for a short-handed marker. Matt Steenhoek collected an assist on the play.

Maw is an affiliated player from Bradford, who's been playing for the York- Simcoe express.

He confessed to having a few butterflies as he suited up for his first outing with the club.

"I was a little nervous myself, being the first game," he remarked.

Despite the team's record of later, Maw said he didn't think the situation was hopeless.

"I just think we need to work together as a team," he observed after the match. "Come together as one and make it all happen."

Waldrum agreed Thursday night that his men are still keeping their chins up.

"The boys are sticking together as a group, and eventually we'll get that table tilted the other way," he said. "The dressing room is still positive."

Waldrum didn't have a lot to say in the aftermath of Friday's decision, although he did point out they had a short bench that evening, as they faced a fast-skating team on the largest ice surface in the league.

"We're going to have to re-evaluate some things and see what we can do to help ourselves," he remarked.

The team was again outshot in Fergus, this time to the tune of 34-21. The Devils scored twice in the opening frame, then put in

seven unanswered goals in the second. The coach said his men were able to hold their own in the third, with the final Fergus goal coming in the last minute, as the Cougars were pressing to break the shutout.

The Cougars have dropped into last place in the standings, with four points, one back of the Midland Flyers.

They have one game this week. They will host the Alliston Hornets tomorrow (Thursday) night, starting at 8:15 p.m.