Cougars to face Alliston Hornets in first round of play offs
By Bill Rea

Jake Whelan was knocked off balance, but he was still able to get his shot away for Schomberg's third goal Saturday night against Erin. Pat Homersham and Todd Cantelon were at the net, drawing assists on the play.

It wasn't the greatest way to end the regular season, but the Schomberg Cougars put up two valiant efforts to close out the campaign last week in the Georgian Mid- Ontario division of the Ontario Hockey Association.

Thursday saw them in a tight contest against the second place Penetang Kings, turning in a solid effort, but falling one goal short for a 6- 5 final.

Saturday's contest, in which they hosted Erin Shamrocks, was an even and well-played affair, until penalties intervened. The second period saw 11 minor penalties being assessed against the Cougars to three going to the Shamrocks. The hosts were obliged to spend much of the frame playing two men short, and that was too much of a burden for the best of teams to handle. Erin potted five goals in that period, en route to a 10-3 final.

Head Coach Gary Waldrum refused to blame the officiating, commenting that a lack of discipline needed to stay out of the penalty box is what took the team out.

On the other hand, the fact that they otherwise showed they can play with their opponents was a positive side as they face a postseason series with the Alliston Hornets. There was definite improvement, in the coach's eye, from the last couple of weeks.

"The difference, that you see, is with a full line-up, we can compete," he commented after the Erin game. "If we can be disciplined, we'll have everything we need to compete."

Brady Sluman, Mitch Ronan and Jake Whelan got the Schomberg goals Saturday, with Joe Digirolamo, Dan Naccarato, Mat Steenhoek, Todd Cantelon and Pat Homersham drawing assists. The first period, which ended with the score 1-1, was a pretty even affair, with Erin having a slight 14-12 advantage in shots. It was in the second, when the penalties came at a steady clip, that the game was decided, with Erin outshooting Schomberg 21-10 and getting five goals to the Cougars' one. The damage was pretty-well done by the time the third period rolled around, with the Shamrocks outshooting the hosts 16-8 and outscoring them 4-1.

But there was a lot to see that Waldrum liked in Thursday's match against the Kings, as he said his men never gave up and proved a willingness to be there against the foes. That was demonstrated in the third period, in which Schomberg outshot Penetang 10-3.

Naccarato led the scoring attack with two markers, while singles were notched by Steenhoek (short-handed), Blake Elliot and Mike Shuryn. Logan Artindale assisted on three of the goals, Digirolamo helped out on two and Naccarato and Ronan drew one assist apiece.

The side now looks forward to the start of the Alliston series, which will get under way tomorrow (Thursday) in Schomberg, starting at 8:15 p.m.

This will be a best-ofseven series, which will resume Friday night in Alliston at 8:30 p.m., followed by a 3:30 Sunday matinee in Alliston. The fourth game is set for next Thursday (Feb. 15) in Schomberg, staring at 8:15 p.m.

Afifth game, if necessary, is set for Feb 18 in Alliston at 7:30 p.m., and the timing of the other two games had not been finalized at press time. They are tentatively set for Feb. 20 in Schomberg and Feb. 22 in Alliston.

"Our game plan really doesn't change," Waldrum said. "As long as we challenge and are disciplined enough to ignore any adversities that come up, we have a chance to upset them."

The Cougars have finished the regular season in sixth place with 14 points, five up on the Midland Flyers. Alliston finished third with 56.