Cougars halt losing skid with back-to-back victories

November 19, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte
Maybe a visit from a Leafs legend and the support of local minor hockey fans was all they needed.
The Junior C Schomberg Cougars were able to put a stop to their seven-game losing streak at home last Thursday, picking up crucial points over some division rivals in the process.
Just 3-6 at home this season, the puck was dropped ceremoniously by ex-NHL goaltender Curtis Joseph on Thursday, as SMHA players packed the seats at the Trisan Centre to take in some GMOHL action.
Despite giving up the first goal mid-way through the first period, Schomberg came back with a flurry of chances beginning with Francesco Corona’s shorthanded marker just 36 seconds later.
Remarkably, they earned their second shorthanded goal on the same penalty kill shortly after when Tanner Smith scored his fourth of the season.
From there, the game was the Cougars for the taking. After JP Crescenzi put the team up 3-1 after the first period, Blake Culley potted two quick goals early in the second off helpers from John Gage.
Dan Naccarato, in only his second game with the Cougars, scored shorthanded to put the game out of reach. Orillia goaltender Gordie Weiss was pulled from the contest after the sixth-straight Schomberg goal, stopping 15 of 21 shots.
Despite the change in net, Schomberg continued to light the lamp with two more goals from Smith and Crescenzi for the much needed 8-4 win.

Win on the road

In Midland the following day, the Cougars looked to pad their stats against the last-place Flyers team.
Ryley Egerton got his team on the board first, with his first goal of the year coming ten minutes into the game.
Tristan Joseph went off for a slashing call with exactly two minutes remaining in the first period, giving Midland a chance to head into the break tied. They took advantage, scoring at the 19-minute mark to make the score 1-1.
Schomberg once again exploded in offense in the second period for the second straight game, as goals from Culley, Connor Whiteside, and Kiefer McIntosh had the Cougars up 4-1 more than half way through the contest.
But two quick Flyer goals, one on the power play and one on the penalty kill, had the game back down to a one-goal deficit.
That’s as close as the Flyers would get, with Smith icing the clincher midway through the third to give the Cougars a 5-3 win.
Smith has been on a tear lately, with five of his seven points this season coming in the last three games.
After an Orillia loss to Caledon on Sunday, the Cougars are now only one point back of the Terriers and the Huntsville Otters for sixth in the GMOHL standings. They are not to be counted out, as with a couple of wins this week they could quickly move to fourth place.
Those wins would have to come at the hands of the Alliston Hornets on Thursday, or on the road against the Stayner Siskins and Caledon Golden Hawks Saturday and Sunday respectively.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.schombergcougars.com.