Storm’s hat trick leads Cougars past Shamrocks

December 9, 2015 · 0 Comments

Cougar Justin Formenton fights a Shamrock defenceman in a race for the puck Sunday in Erin. Schomberg put up seven straight goals to beat the Shamrocks 9-4.

By Jake Courtepatte
The Schomberg Cougars burst back into the win column after a two-week absence with back-to-back victories over two of their closest opponents.
Trisan Centre was the venue for Thursday’s match up with the Penetang Kings, a seasoned team that has simply failed to find their legs all year. Schomberg took advantage of a four-minute man advantage midway through the first, the Kings’ season-long frustration boiling over with an instigator penalty. Derek Neilly notched his fifth of the season to make it 1-0.
Kiefer McIntosh doubled the lead before the end of the first, while Cougars goaltender Vince Michelizzi stayed perfect until early in the second when the Kings cut the lead in half.
But the game was Schomberg’s for the taking, allowing only 16 shots on Michelizzi in the entire contest. Three more goals off the sticks of Carter LeRoux, Joseph Mete and Evan Woodhead gave Schomberg the 5-1 victory.

Shambrocks plucked

They entered Erin on Sunday with a dismal 1-9-1 record on the road this season, yet faced a Shamrocks squad that had won once in the past month.
Perhaps still in cruise control after the lopsided home win, it was Erin that jumped out to a 3-0 lead before most fans had even finished grabbing their popcorn. Michelizzi was yanked after facing five shots in just over five minutes, replaced by Martin Lauzon in goal.
The stoppage seemed to give the Cougars a chance to regroup, who had tied the game just over eight minutes later.
Before the period could run out, Neilly stuffed in a rebound off a Tanner Smith wraparound to incredibly give the Cougars the lead heading into the first intermission.
Lauzon turned aside all eight shots he faced in the second, while the Cougars continued to pour them in on Shamrocks goalie Tom Denstedt. Shadoe Storm, in his fourth game since signing with the Cougars, began a memorable night with his first goal in a Schomberg uniform midway through the second. McIntosh and Brendan Spencer made it seven-straight Schomberg goals before the end of the period, chasing Denstedt from the net as well.
Erin notched one on the power play shortly into the third, but that would be as close as they would get. Schomberg had almost eight minutes of straight power play time to end the game, giving Storm the opportunity to notch two more for the hat trick and a 9-4 win.
The former South Central Coyote now has five points in his last two games, after earning two assists against Penetang.
With the wins, the Cougars have propelled themselves past both the Kings and Shamrocks in Georgian Mid-Ontario Hockey League standings, into sixth place in the nine-team league.
They put their newly-found success, and impressive 8-4-1 home record, to the test on Thursday when hosting the league-leading Alliston Hornets (22-2-1) at the Trisan Centre. Puck drop is at 8:30 p.m.
Thursday will be the last opportunity for fans to bring in toys for the Cougars’ annual toy drive for Sick Kids Hospital. New and unwrapped donations will be accepted at the game.
A trip to Midland is set for Friday to take on the Flyers (13-10-1).
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.schombergcougars.com.