The Rangers were enjoying an unbeaten streak on their home games, since the start of the National Capital Junior Hockey League season (NCJHL). The Cougars tore that streak to shreds over the February 8 weekend.
“The boys dominated from start to finish,” stated Coach Franky Dopelhamer, in an email summary of the night. “This game was definitely what you can expect a playoff game will look like. Great teamwork and the boys showed the Rangers what they are made of. And don’t forget, we eliminated them (South Grenville) in last year’s playoffs semifinals. It’s a given that they do not like playing against the Cougars and they don’t especially like losing to us, especially in their own house.”
The Cougars warmed up for their Saturday night clash with the Rangers with a bit of shinny hockey, on the outdoor community rink, as they took part in the annual Vankleek Hill Winter Carnival celebration. During the game against South Grenville, the Cougars’ forward line of Samuel Lemay, John Lacroix and Justin Chaumont tallied nine of Vankleek Hill’s 11 goals, with Lemay himself scoring a double hat trick as well as assisting on another goal. Lacroix punched in a pair of goals, as did Tristan Lavoie, while Chaumont scored a single.
The Cougars have two final home games this weekend, against the Bytown Royals Saturday night and late Sunday afternoon against the Clarence Creek Castors. The February 7 road match with Bytown was postponed because of the weather. Coach Dopelhamer observed the Royals need the game to go ahead before the start of the playoffs, to determine whether they are seeded sixth or seventh in the NCJHL playoffs schedule.
Saint-Isidore
Saint-Isidore hockey fans enjoyed a winning weekend for their team.
The Clarence Creek Castors got skinned 3-2 on their home ice by Saint-Isidore Saturday night, with Mikael Houle, Jonathan Paquette, and Sébastien Roy popping in singles for the visiting team.
Saint-Isidore hosted the Bytown Royals Sunday and crowned the visiting club 6-4. Kevin Howson scored two points for Saint-Isidore while his teammates Houle, Jeremy Arbour, Frédérik Laflèche, and Patrick Ranger punched in singles.
One game remains on Saint-Isidore’s regular schedule before the NCJHL playoffs, with a Sunday afternoon road game against the South Grenville Rangers.
Clarence Creek
The February 8 weekend was not a great one for the Clarence Creek Castors.
The Castors managed a two-all tie for their Friday night road game against the Gatineau Hull-Volant. Gatineau was up 2-1 at the end of first period but went scoreless in the second and third periods.
The Castors managed one more goal in second period to tie the game but were unable to score again in third. Goals for Clarence Creek came from Xavier Brunet and Austin LaPrade.
Sunday night at home, Clarence Creek hosted Saint-Isidore, with the visiting team clipping the Castors 3-2. Brunet and Zachary Payer scored for Clarence Creek.
The last games on the Castors’ regular schedule are February 12 evening, at home, against Gatineau, and February 16, in Vankleek Hill, against the Cougars.
NCJHL AllStar Night
The National Capital Junior Hockey League’s annual All-Star Game is February 14, in Metcalfe, at the Larry Robinson Arena, with the puck drop at 8 p.m.
The East Division lineup includes Nikolas Ayotte, Samuel Lemay, Nicolas Castonguay, Keean McEachern, Zack Labbé, and Frédérick Durocher-Bourdon of the Vankleek Hill Cougars, along with Coaches Franky Dopelhamer and Greg McEachern. Representing Clarence Creek on the roster are Castors Sam Gaudet, Jacob Servant, Nicolas Gaumond, Caleb Smith, and A.J. Larivière. On ice for Saint-Isidore are Jakob Brunette, Kevin Howson, Frédérik Laflèche, and Dawson Irving.
