Move to within two points of Trojans

It was a game the Cougars men’s hockey team could ill afford to lose. Four points behind the SAIT Trojans with only a head to head matchup remaining before the winter semester break, the Cougars knew what was on the line.

A Cougars’ loss would mean a six point deficit between them and the first place Trojans, a win and the Cougars would only trail their rivals by two points – a crucial four point swing come playoff positioning at the end of the season.

Playing in the hostile confines of SAIT’s campus centre, the Cougars were able to break the ice and open the scoring only three minutes into the game, as Joe Vetere beat Trojans goalkeeper Tommy Tartaglione to give the Cougars the early lead.

The Trojans would respond some eight minutes later as Travis Bradshaw would score his first goal of the regular to knot things up at one a piece.

The score wouldn’t stay even for long, as just two minutes later, with the Cougars on the powerplay, Jason MacDonald would find the score sheet, restoring the one goal lead.

The Cougars looked primed to head into the first intermission with the advantage, but Shane Lust had other plans, as the Trojans leading goal scorer rifled home his 11th of the season to once again tie the game.

The second frame was a statement period for the blue and white, as the team set to make their mark – and make their mark they did.

Eric Galbraith tallied two goals in the period, including a powerplay marker just 1:45 into the period, as the Cougars jumped out to a 4-2 lead after two periods of play.

The Trojans would try and rally with a goal ten minutes into the third period, but it was too little too late, as the Cougars pulled out the 4-3 victory to pull to within two points of first place in the conference.

For the Trojans it was their first home loss in 33 games, a span of nearly three years.

Justin Cote earned the win in goal, his fourth of the season, making 23 saves in the winning effort.

Head coach Jean Laforest said the win was huge for a Cougars team headed into the Christmas break.

“It’s a long time to think about a loss,” said Laforest. “We really needed the victory to keep our fate in our own hands; there is a big difference between trailing a team by two points, and trailing a team by six points. It allows us to control our own destiny rather than relying on others, and that’s just the way we like it.”

With the victory, the Cougars end the first half of the season with an 11-3-0-2 mark, two points behind the Trojans for first place and three ahead of the Augustana Vikings who sit in third.

The Cougars won’t be back onto the ice until January 7th 2011, when they head to NAIT to take on the Ooks, before returning to Flames Community Arenas on January 8th for the rematch.

Congratulations on a great first half of the season!