Ex-Cougar sinks Schomberg with hat-trick

September 30, 2015 · 0 Comments

Forward Declan Lampe plays the body on an Alliston forward after dumping the puck in Schomberg’s 5-3 loss to the Hornets on Friday.
By Jake Courtepatte
It wasn’t the most welcoming sight when forward John Gage returned to the same ice as the Schomberg Cougars, this time in a white, yellow and green Alliston Hornets jersey.
He was a goaltender’s nightmare through the first period of Friday’s game in the always rowdy New Tecumseh Rec Centre, throwing a handful of shots of his own on goalie Vince Michelizzi amongst an onslaught of Alliston chances. He buried his first goal against Schomberg, with whom he scored 41 points with last year, mid-way through the first on a juicy rebound that was of no fault to Michelizzi.
Schomberg was lucky enough to ride the hot stick of Mike Elia into the first intermission, who continued his hot streak since joining the Cougars shortly after by finishing on a nice solo effort to break down the left wing and find the far corner.
Enter Gage once more.
Five minutes into the second period, he snuck another past Michelizzi, again on a second effort. He completed the hat trick just minutes later, stinging the Cougars by burying a controversial goal that the referee insisted crossing the line, despite Michelizzi’s best efforts to protest.
Newcomer Carter LeRoux breathed some life into the Cougars, however, when he followed up on a nice breakaway effort by Ryley Egerton, pushing the rebound under an out of position Alliston goaltender while shorthanded.
Now down 3-2 in the third, a generous bounce off the backboards behind the Alliston net put the puck on Joseph Mete’s stick with 13 minutes to go, tying the game at three. But Michelizzi, peppered with shots all game, just couldn’t hold on. Two Alliston goals with under six minutes to play were the kicker, giving Alliston the 5-3 win.
Gage was obviously pleased with his efforts after the game.
“I just went out there and played my kind of game,” he said. “I like to go to the net and tonight I got my chances.”
The already strong Hornets bolstered their scoring abilities earlier in September by acquiring Gage in a one-for-one trade for defenceman Branden Spencer. At the same time, they picked up the Penetang King’s Jordan Schwartz, a point-a-game player from last season.
The younger Spencer is expected to be more of a long-term commitment for the Cougars, as the seasoned Gage is entering his final year of junior eligibility.
This week’s Thursday home match up has the Cougars taking on the nearby Caledon Golden Hawks, while they will also look for a swift two points against the lowly Midland Flyers on the road Saturday.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.schombergcougars.com.