After a 4-3 loss in Gatineau on Friday night, the Vankleek Hill Cougars won the fourth game of the series 5-4 in overtime on Sunday afternoon to stay in the race for the NCJHL title.
The Cougars had a great start to the game on Friday. Garrett Cunning scored the first goal just two minutes in, and two more goals by the end the first by Rowan McPherson and Jacob Crete made the scoreline 3-0 for the visiting team.
Gatineau didn’t let up, and four back-to-back goals by William Perrault, Maxime Dion, Lois Flansberry and Samuel Emery put them ahead to win the game 4-3, and take a 3-0 lead in the series.
“They took the momentum,” said Cougars head-coach Nicolas Pharand. “And we ran out of puck-luck a bit”
The Cougars were playing with their season, and any chance of winning the NCJHL title, on the line Sunday afternoon in the fourth game of the series.
Jérémy Marcotte put the Cougars on the scoresheet after four minutes of play, but Tristan O’Rourke replied for Gatineau just on minute later to tie the game. Joshua Desjardins put the Cougars ahead with six minutes left to the period.
Gatineau came back from behind in the second, as Shayne Lafleur and Tyler Lafleur scored on goal each to put the visitors ahead. Tyler Lafleur then scored his second of the game with 13 minutes left to the third period, dwindling the Cougar’s chance of winning the game.
Just a minute later, Jacob Rose took a five-minute major penalty for Boarding, giving the Cougars a fighting chance. The Cougars capitalized twice on the penalty with goals by Jérémy Marcotte and Bruno Laframboise.
Going into overtime, the Cougars were given another powerplay. Jérémy Marcotte scored his third of the game, completing the hattrick and giving Cougars a much-needed victory. “We played a good game and never quit” said Pharand. “These guys knew this could be their last game of the season and played like it.”
Pharand believes can come back from behind and win the series. He says he’s reminded his player the Cougars have won four in a row in the last two series. “Destiny is in their hands” said Pharand. “They just have to go and get it.”
