Offence stifled as Cougars fall to Hornets and Flyers

December 15, 2015 · 0 Comments

Schomberg’s Vince Michelizzi stopped seven of eight shots in relief against the Alliston Hornets on Thursday, with the Hornets stinging the Cougars 5-1.

By Jake Courtepatte
Two of the Georgian Mid-Ontario Hockey League powerhouses proved to be too much for the Schomberg Cougars, who didn’t earn a point in two games this weekend.
They became just the latest in a long line of victims of the Alliston Hornets on Thursday, whose last loss came almost two months ago.
Alliston came out hot, beating goaltender Martin Lauzon late in the first period after their shot total hit the double digits. He allowed a power play goal midway through the second, and after two even-strength markers in the third, he was pulled from the Schomberg net.
Vince Michelizzi allowed one more in relief, as Alliston cruised to a 5-1 win. Kiefer McIntosh cemented his position as the Cougars’ top goal scorer with his 12th of the season.
One of the few positives that can be taken away from this one is ex-Cougar John Gage was kept off the scoresheet for the first time since early November.
Gage, who spent two full seasons with the Cougars before a one-for-one trade for defenseman Brendan Spencer in the off-season, is currently sixth in league scoring.

Flyers double Cougars

Things didn’t get much easier in Midland the following night, with Michelizzi between the pipes at the opening face off.
The Flyers peppered Michelizzi with shots in the first, taking a 2-0 lead just eight minutes into the game. McIntosh cut the lead in half before the end of the period, assisted by JP Crescenzi and Ryley Egerton, a line combo that has carried the brunt of the offensive load for the Cougars this year.
But it was all Midland in the second period, scoring twice with Spencer in the box on separate occasions to put the game out of reach heading to the final frame.
Crescenzi added one more for the Cougars in the dying seconds with their net empty, for a final score of 4-2.
The loss is just the latest error in the Cougars’ road performance this year, having picked up just five points in 13 contests away from the Trisan Centre. Their road woes have left them near the basement of the GMOHL, holding on to a record of 10-15-2 for seventh place.
The Hornets, who have outscored the Cougars 13-5 in sweeping their three-game season series so far, are far and away the top team in the Junior C league. Their 24-2-1 record has all but guaranteed a number-one seed heading into the post-season, which begins in early February.
Their next closest opponent is the Huntsville Otters, currently 18 points behind the Hornets.
Schomberg has to contend with Alliston two more times this year: a home-and-home series at the end of January to close out the regular season.
Looking closer down the line, the Cougars contend with the Erin Shamrocks (9-16-2) at home this Thursday before visiting the Caledon Golden Hawks (14-13-1) on Sunday.
Puck drop Thursday is at 8:30 p.m.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit ww.schombergcougars.com.