Gage lifts Cougars past Devils to halt winless streak

December 23, 2014 · 0 Comments

Joseph Mete absorbs a hit after making a pass against the Fergus Devils. The Cougars defeated the Devils 8-3 on Thursday.
Photo by Jake Courtepatte

By Jake Courtepatte
After a slow start to the season resulted in only four points through the first 16 games, Schomberg Cougar John Gage has become one of the Junior C squad’s most lethal producers on the scoresheet.
The second-year forward led the team in scoring in an 8-3 victory Thursday night over the Fergus Devils, earning a hat trick at home and adding an assist in the effort.
Ryley Egerton opened the scoring just three minutes in with his fifth of the year, followed shortly after by goals from Kiefer McIntosh and Gage to open a 3-0 lead.
After the Devils got on the board in the dying minutes of the first, Blake Culley restored the three-goal lead just 20 seconds later, one of three points on the night.
Schomberg dominated the Devils offensively in the opening frame, outshooting them by a total of 16-5.
The second period was a much more even affair, with goaltender Taylor Ewart making 11 stops and allowing two goals to cut the lead to one.
However, he would not be beat again, as the Cougars opened up for four goals in the third period, from Joseph Mete, Brandon Yorke, and two by Gage to complete the hat trick.
Now riding a seven-game point streak, Gage has earned six goals and six assists over that period.
Schomberg’s special teams were the deciding factor in the contest, as their power play squad went 3-6, improving greatly on the season numbers.
Meanwhile, they kept their own time in the box to only 21 minutes, quite an improvement over their league-leading 31.6 minutes per game average. They also scored a shorthanded marker in the third.
The win cracks a three-game losing streak for the Cougars, after dropping an OT decision in Huntsville last Friday.
With the GMOHL season winding down, a lot of work remains for the Schomberg team after a shootout loss on the weekend by Orillia and a win for Erin still has them only two points out of last-place in league standings.
They will be looking to gain more ground with a rematch in Fergus on Sunday, followed by a rare Tuesday home game against the Orillia Terriers on Jan. 30.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.schombergcougars.com.