Hydro keeps Cougars from breaking losing streak
By Bill Rea

Cougars' Dan Naccarato was trying to get through the Fergus defence in the second period of Thursday's match in Schomberg.

Head Coach Gary Waldrum called it a case of "Cougars' luck."

The Schomberg Cougars were less than 15 minutes away from ending their fourgame losing streak Friday night. The league leading Alliston Hornets seemed unable to stop them, but the hydro people did.

The lights went out after about five minutes of play in the third period, with the visiting Cougars ahead 4-1, and the match had to be halted.

Waldrum wasn't sure what will happen with the incomplete game, stating it will be up to the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). He said the game sheet would have been sent to them.

"Until they tell us what we're doing, we just don't know," he remarked.

But Waldrum said he expects the outstanding 14 minutes and 53 seconds will be played the next time the Cougars are slated to face off against the Hornets in Alliston. he said it would likely take place before the scheduled match takes place, and that game is not until Jan. 14.

To add to the frustration, the Cougars had just started a power play when the darkness struck.

The team put in a solid effort, which was badly needed after what took place Thursday night when they hosted the Fergus Devils.

Fergus got three quick goals in the middle of the opening period to take a 4-1 lead into the second frame. But the Cougars were solid in that period, outscoring their foes 2-1, and they had a couple of great chances in the last couple of minutes to add to that total. But the home side was flat for the third and the Devils were revved. The result was six unanswered goals, an 11-3 final score and one very annoyed head coach.

He agreed his men spent most of the second frame showing the type of effort it takes to compete against Fergus, or any other team in the loop. "We got away from what we were doing in the second and we paid the price," he remarked.

Goals came from Eddie Wiederer, Thomas Faris and Adrian Dupuis, with Faris, Mike Digirolamo, Blake Elliott, Luke Maw and Matt Steenhoek notching assists.

The coach was at a loss to explain what went wrong, adding if he could, they wouldn't have been in that situation.

But he later observed the players obviously took that experience to heart the following night in Alliston.

"The effort was there," he declared the following day. "They were doing what we asked them to."

Ty Legrow, who faced 44 Fergus shots Thursday night, was between the pipes again Friday, at his request. Waldrum said he was anxious to prove the performance against the Devils was not indicative, and the coach said he did not disappoint. He faced 31 shots and even stopped a penalty shot before the lights went out.

Faris got two of the goals for the side Friday night, with singles notched by Dan Naccarato and Brad Cantelon.

The Cougars play at home twice this week.

They will be hosting the Penetang Kings tomorrow (Thursday) night, starting at 8:15 p.m. The Hornets will be in town Saturday for a match slated to get started at 7:30 p.m.