Cougars put in some good efforts, but still continue to struggle
By Bill Rea

Cougar newcomer Daniel Valente scored two power-play goals for his mates Saturday night, and was trying to set something up from behind the Stayner net late in the match.

The season hasn't been good to the Schomberg Cougars so far.

Despite their record, the local heroes of junior C hockey closed out 2007 with some credible efforts.

They opened the year Thursday with a poor showing at home against the Midland Flyers, but they made up for it two nights later with a win over the Stayner Siskins.

The Cougars took the lead in the first minute of Saturday's outing, and while the Siskins had things tied within five minutes, the hosts never trailed, and eventually prevailed 4-3. They led 4-2 going into the third period, and surrendered a power-play goal in the middle of the frame. but that was all the damage they allowed their foes to do.

It was the second game in a Cougars' uniform for forward Daniel Valente, and he marked the occasion by scoring two power-play goals. Justin Brooks and Mike Sheppard got the other two, while Colin Murray, Shane Jones, Matt Steenhoek, Dan Naccarato and Enrico Ferri had assists.

Valente said he hadn't been playing much hockey this season, apart from a bit of shinny a couple of times a week, but some friends on the team suggested he get back into it.

"I want to get the competitive spirit back into me," the 19-year-old Newmarket resident commented.

Most observers would have to agree Saturday's performance was a big improvement over Thursday's, which Head Coach Gary Waldrum said was characterized by a "total lack of discipline."

The upshot was a 6-2 loss to the Flyers, with a couple of players, namely Todd Cantelon and Chris Case being excused from the match with gross misconducts, and the team will have to do without their services while they sit out suspensions.

Murray and Naccarato collected the goals for the local side, with Case, Sheppard and larry Volpe earning assists.

The team's last outing of '07 saw them travel to Erin, where they endured an 8-5 loss to the Shamrocks.

Erin took a 3-1 lead in the first period of the match, and added three more in the second. But the Cougars roared some defiance in the frame too, posting four goals (three on the power play). But they weren't able to carry the momentum into the third period. The Shamrocks were able to add two more markers to take the win.

Sheppard was a two-goal man for his mates, while singles were counted by Murray, Naccarato and Brooks. Brooks also collected an assist, as did Adam Green, Ferri and Steenhoek.

"We should have come out on top of that one," Waldrum commented later. "Overall, it's a game we should have won."

The night before that (Dec. 28), the team was in Alliston to face the secondplace Hornets. the Cougars were able to stay close to their foes, but still came home on the wrong side of a 2-0 final.

The last home game of the year for the Cougars was Dec. 27, and it was a tough 7-3 loss to the Fergus Devils.

The team turned in excellent performances, including two short-handed goals (from Brooks and Murray), along with a beautifully set up goal by Jamie Murrell (assisted by Volpe and Brandon Lisi), but it wasn't enough to keep them within reach of the Fergus scoring punch.

Waldrum again pointed to a lack of discipline, as his men gave up three goals while killing penalties.

"We had two really solid periods," he remarked. "No excuses. We've got to do better."

The Cougars will be taking their show on the road for the coming week.

Tomorrow (Thursday) night, they will be in Stayner for a return match against the Siskins, starting at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday night will see them in Erin for a 7:30 match against the Shamrocks.

They will be heading to Fergus Sunday for an encounter with the Devils. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:30 p.m.

The next home game for the club will be next Thursday (Jan. 17), when the Cougars will entertain Alliston. The game will start at 8:15 p.m.