Photo by Jon Yaneff The recent emergence of second-year forward Brandon Lisi is continuing to be red-hot, like his orange hair.

After a self-determined, two-goal performance Thursday, Lisi now has six goals and two assists in his last three games. Though the Schomberg Cougars lost 6-4 to the Stayner Siskins at the Schomberg Community Centre, it looks as though the 19-year-old would singlehandedly bring his team right back into the contest.

"At the beginning of the season I was playing all for myself, but I had a few words with some of the players and coaches and I knew I had to start playing team hockey out there," Lisi said.

With the game 5-3 in the third, the Bolton native scored a wrap-around marker, at the right side of the Stayner goal, beating Siskins netminder Grant McCaffrey.

Lisi scored his first goal, which tied the game 3-3 with 1:08 remaining in the second period.

Lisi had only six points in the first 20 games of the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior 'C' Hockey League campaign, but first-year Head Coach Craig Armitage said Lisi (an assistant captain) is starting to step up as one of the veterans of the team.

"Once Brandon bought into my system, his game evaluated as a result," said Armitage.

The Siskins revamped their lineup, as they released 10 players last Monday (Dec. 1). Stayner made three trades in November and added young forwards Jake Bauchman and Jordan Duckworth.

But, it was Stayner's usual suspects who stepped up early, as right-winger Chris McNabb (24 points in as many games) scored on the powerplay to open the scoring about 10 minutes into the first frame.

Schomberg's captain Eddie Wiederer also scored on the two-man advantage powerplay, to tie the game two minutes later. Stayner took the lead with forwards Brody Kirbyson and Andrew Boyle beating Schomberg goalie Mike Platten.

The game was tied in the second, as forward Todd Cantelon (on the powerplay) and Lisi each scored in the period.

The third had the Cougars let up, as left-winger Wendell Jacobs and Bauchman gave Stayner the two-goal advantage. After Lisi made it close, Stayner centre Lee Pearce stole the puck in the Schomberg zone and beat Platten in the fivehole.

Schomberg (12-11-2) will have their biggest test of the Stayner captain Chris McNabb battles for the puck against Schomberg forward Larry Volpe. The Siskins won the game, 6-4, at the Schomberg Community Centre Thursday.

season, with back-to-back games against the first-place Alliston Hornets (24-1, 48 points). The home-and-home will start in Schomberg Thursday, stating at 8:15 p.m., then concludes at the Town of New Tecumseth Recreation Complex Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Cougars will also play Saturday against the last-place Midland Flyers (1-22-2) at the North Simcoe Sports and recreation Centre.

From the front office: Schomberg signed forward Kyle Scott last week, after the Aurora resident was released from the Ajax Attack of the Ontario Junior 'A' Hockey League. The versatile player (also can play defence) was released at the Dec. 1 deadline by Ontario Hockey Association teams to shorten their lineups.

Who's hot: With two assists on Thursday, forward Dylan Chessell now has 12 points in his last four games (three goals, nine assists), which totals 35 (13 goals, 22 assists) in 24 games.

Injury report: Forward Ryan Christadler (shoulder pull) was given clearance to play last week, but the Cougars gave him an extra week to rest. Enrico Ferri, who cut himself against Midland last Friday, should also return to the lineup this week versus Alliston.