Cougars have a rough time as their new season officially starts
By Bill Rea

Former Schomberg Cougars captains Ken Hamilton and Matt Sellers performed the ceremonial face off Thursday night at the team's home opener. Robbie Rutledge too the draw for the visiting Alliston Hornets while Dan Naccarrato handled the honours for the Cougars.

It's clear there's a lot of enthusiasm in the Schomberg Cougars' line up this year. It's also clear they need to get some experience in order to compete.

The 2007-'08 edition of the team took to the ice for their home opener Thursday night, and the evening offered little in the way of happy memories. The visiting Alliston Hornets downed the local junior C heroes 11-3.

The team didn't help its cause by drawing an excessive number of penalties. Five of the Alliston goals were scored on the power play, but even that news wasn't all bad. The first two Cougars goals came while they were killing penalties.

But it was clear that Alliston was leading the way for most of the game, and the final shots-on-goal figures gave them a 52-25 edge.

Chris Gard got the first goal for the side and veteran Todd Cantelon connected on the second, with assistance from Chris Case and Matt Wolfenden. Veteran Dan Naccarato converted a power-play effort for the team's third marker in the final fame, with help from Shane Jones and Brandon Lisi.

Shane Jones was watching as Dan Naccarrato was reaching for the lose puck in front of the Hornets' net in the third period of Thursday's game. Naccarrato soon had the puck in the goal for the Cougars' third marker of the evening.

Inexperience is the big obstacle this team is going to have to come to terms with, Head Coach Gary Waldrum commented after the match. He said he iced 17 rookies and just seven veterans, defining a veteran as someone with some junior experience.

"I think that's pretty much what happens when you have a team of rookies," he observed, adding things went against the players early and they weren't able to get it back together.

Despite the lop-sided score, Waldrum said he sees a lot of positives.

"We have a lot of talented kids, kids who are willing to work hard."

"It's up to us to get them to be disciplined and play as a team," he added.

The Cougars are due to return to action tomorrow (Thursday) night when they will host the Midland Flyers, starting at 8:15 p.m. the following night will see them travelling to Alliston to return the call paid by the Hornets. The puck is slated to drop at 7:30 p.m. The team will be on the road Saturday night too, as they will be in Erin to face the Shamrocks, starting at 7:30 p.m.