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Things looking a little more promising for Cougars in '07
They won their first game of the year Thursday against the Midland Flyers, and while they lost two subsequent game over the weekend, to the Stayner Siskins and Fergus Devils, they were able to keep pace with their foes in both outings. Family and work obligations reduced the team's ranks during the time of celebration, meaning the last couple of games in 2006 weren't especially positive. They dropped a 7-2 decision at home against the Devils Dec. 28, then fell 8-2 the following night in Fergus. The last game of the year was in Erin against the Shamrocks, and that match ended in a 6-1 loss. Goals in those outings were notched by Jake Whelan, Mitch Ronan, Thomas Faris (who has since left the club and is now suited up with the Shamrocks), Dan Naccarato and Mike Shuryn. Shuryn and Brad Cantelon each notched a pair of assists in these outings, while singles were counted by Todd Cantelon, Adrian Dupuis, Faris, Whelan and Matt Steenhoek. Head Coach Gary Waldrum said the short bench was the problem after the Erin contest. "That's junior C," he remarked. Things were looking pretty good Thursday night, when the side topped Midland 4-1, and it looked for a while like a shutout might be in the works. Dupuis was a two-goal man for the Cougars, with Blake Elliot and Joe Digirolamo scoring singles. Shuryn assisted on both of Dupuis' markers, and Chris Case, Shane Jones, Elliot and Brad Cantelon got one apiece. "It feels good to get a win," commented goalie Ben Ivany, who turned aside 29 Midland shots for the victory. "We needed one big time." "As a team, we could have done a little bit better on the little things," he added, observing there was room for improvement in the back checking and forechecking departments. But Brad Cantelon wasn't as pleased. "I thought is was disappointing," he said, commenting the Cougars should have done much better against a team like Midland. "But two points is two points." "I think we just need a little more energy out of everybody," he added. "We just need everybody to come to the rink focused at the start of the game." "It's a win, and a win is a win," Waldrum observed. The energy shown by Elliot came in for special praise from the coach, as did Ivany's performance. "He kept us in there, no matter what mistakes we made," he remarked. Saturday's game against Stayner saw some very solid play from the Cougars in the first and third periods. As for the second frame, things could be best summed up by the fact the team was outshot 11-0. The side was up 3-0 after one period, but things were tied 3-3 at the end of two. Whelan put his mates back in front about half way through the third with a low shot from the blue line that went through a maze of players. "All the goals we scored were along the ice," he said after the game. But Stayner restored the tie two minutes later on a short-handed marker, then collected three more, including one into the empty Schomberg net, for the 7-4 final. Steenhoek later said they had the game, but just gave it up in the second. "It's a tough loss," he said. Waldrum said inexperience is still a problem, pointing out his men aren't used to playing with a lead. "The rookies tend to think the work's done once they get the lead," he commented. Sunday's outing in Fergus was another case of playing with a short bench. And Waldrum said matters weren't helped by the fact both Mike and Joe Digirolamo drew game misconducts on the way to a 4-2 loss to the Devils. Naccarato got both goals for the side, and assists were earned by Brady Sluman, Whelan and Keith Thomson. The Cougars return to action tomorrow (Thursday) night when they host the Penetang Kings, starting at 8:15 p.m.
They will return the visit Friday night in a match starting at 8:30 p.m., and then travel to Alliston for a Sunday game with the Hornets, starting at 6 p.m. |
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