Fifth-straight victory for Cougar men

The Cougar men’s hockey team sits just three points behind the SAIT Trojans for top spot in the ACAC after beating the Grant MacEwan Griffins twice this past weekend.

The Cougars gave their home fans a 6-0 rout on Friday before posting a 5-2 win at Bill Hunter Arena the following night.

The Cougars absolutely dominated the Griffins Friday, and the score could have been even more lopsided had it not been for a great effort from Griffins goaltender Shannon Szabados – the Olympic gold medalist with the Canadian women’s hockey team. who now suits up for the Griffins. The Cougars outshot the Griffins 61-15 and Justin Cote registered the shutout win.

The Cougars came flying out of the gate, as Barry Horman scored just two minutes into the first period on his way to a two-point night. Jeremy Roberts scored twice in the latter half of the frame to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead.

Bradley Goss scored a rare short-handed goal in the second period, but the Cougars were thwarted time and time again by Szabados, who stopped 24 of 25 shots in the period.

Roberts completed the hat trick just two minutes into the third period, and Goss would add his second of the game in the final minute of play, capping off a complete 60 minute effort by the Cougars.

The Griffins came out with more fight on Saturday in their own building, but the Cougars played another strong game, ending the home-and-home with a 5-2 win.

Brett Bothwell started in net for the Cougars, and stopped 23 of 25 shots for the win.
Kevin Knopp opened the scoring early in the first off a pass from Coleton Thielmann to make it 1-0 Cougars. The Cougars had 17 shots in the opening frame.

Jordon Harrison (1G, 1A) scored on the powerplay early in the second period to make it 2-0, and Bradley Goss continued his high-scoring weekend, scoring three minutes later to build the lead to three.

The Griffins fought back in the middle frame, scoring a powerplay goal at 6:38 to cut the lead to two, and added a shorthanded marker with less than two minutes to play in the period to make it 3-2 Cougars heading into the third.

Goss added his second goal of the game and fourth of the weekend 12:20 into the final frame, and Jessie Tresierra scored on the powerplay a minute later for the final goal of the game to make it 5-2 Cougars.

Grant Toulmin (2A) and Jeremy Wagner (2A) each had two point nights for the Cougars.
The Cougars outshot the Griffins 55-25.

With only six games remaining until playoffs, each game is growing increasingly important for the Cougars who square off with the Portage Voyageurs this coming weekend. Both games will be on the road in Lac La Biche, before the Cougars return home on February 5th versus the Augustana Vikings.